Brantley County residents who want to cast a ballot in the state’s May 19 primary election have a little more than a week to make sure they are registered to vote.
The three-week early voting period begins Monday, April 27 and runs through Friday, May 15 at the Brantley County Elections Office located at 10305 N. Main Street in Nahunta. Voting is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
There are two Saturday voting dates — May 2 and May 9. Times are also 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
In order to vote in the May 19 primary, Georgia voters must be registered by Monday, April 20. In order to register, you must be a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you wish to vote, and at least 17-1/2 years of age to register, and 18 to vote.
You can register to vote on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website.
Absentee voting, or vote by mail, is an option for Georgia voters, and you don’t have to be absent from the county on election day in order to use this method. You do have to request an absentee ballot, which can be done online or by mail, and the request must be submitted by May 8 for the primary election.
Georgia voters do not need to be registered with a particular political party in order to vote in that party’s primary. In fact, party affiliation is not part of the registration process in the state. The state has open primaries, meaning voters can choose which party’s primary ballot they want, when they vote.
On Election Day, Tuesday, May 19, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must cast their ballot at their assigned precinct — Brantley County Senior Center, Hoboken Community Center and Waynesville Baptist Church.
Whether you are voting early or on election day, you must show one of the following forms of photo identification:
• Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
• A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired
• Student ID from a Georgia public college or university
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state
• Valid U.S. passport ID
• Valid U.S. military photo ID containing a photograph of the voter
• Valid tribal photo ID containing a photograph of the voter Locally, there are four races with two each on the Brantley County Commission and the Brantley County Board of Education.
Brantley Commission
Post 4 and Post 5 are up for election on the Board of Commissioners. Post 4 long-time Commissioner Brian Hendrix is not seeking another term.
Five people qualified to fill Hendrix’s seat. The list includes John Thompson, James Duncan, former commissioner Ray Griffin, Mathew McGrath and Justin Bowers.
Post 5 incumbent Commissioner Andy Riggins is seeking a second term. He is being challenged by Whitney Schrack and J.T. Flanders.
Brantley BOE
Post 2 and Post 4 are being contested for Board of Education seats. Post 2 incumbent Kathy Hendrix is being challenged by Lynn Daniels.
The Post 4 seat was vacated last year when Cliff Adams resigned with four vying to fill the void. Former board member Brenda Johns, retired educators Richard Gill and Teri Gibson, along with Kalyn Gilleon are the candidates. Statewide Governor
This year’s election cycle will feature a closely-watched race for governor, as Republican Brian Kemp is term-limited and can’t seek reelection.
Many high-profile state Republicans want to succeed Kemp.
On the Republican side of the gubernatorial race, eight candidates are vying for the nominee. The list includes Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Attorney General Chris Carr, Clark Dean, Rick Jackson, Gregg Kirkpatrick, Tom Williams and Ken Yasger.
On the Democratic side, this of seven include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, Olu Brown, Amanda Duffy, Jason Esteves, Derrick Jackson and Michael “Mike” Thurmond.
Senate
In the Senate race, three Republicans are battling for the chance to face Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is running unopposed with a large fundraising chest prepared for the general election.
Five are vying for the Republican nominee which includes Rep. Mike Collins, Rep. Buddy Carter, Derek Dooley, John F. Coyne III and Jonathan “Jon” McColumn. Lt. Governor
Seven Republicans vying to fill the seat vacated by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ run for governor are David Clark, Greg Dolezale, Steve Gooch, John F. Kennedy, Brenda Lynn Nelson-Porter, Takoshia Swan and Blake Tillery.
The three Democratic candidates are Josh McLaurin, Nabilah Parkes and Richard N. Wright.
Secretary of State With Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger also seeking the governor’s chair, five Republicans and four Democrats have entered the race.
The Republican candidates include Tim Fleming, Vernon Jones, Kelvin King, Ted Metz and Gabriel “Gabe” Starling.
The Democrat candidates are Cam Ashing, Dana Barrett, Penny Brown Reynolds and Adrian Consonery, Jr.
Attorney General Those seeking to fill the seat vacated by Attorney General Chris Carr has two candidates for each side.
Bill Cowsert and Brian Strickland seek the Republican nomination while Tanya Miller and Robert “Bob” Trammel vye for the Democratic nominee.
Incumbent State School Superintendent Richard Woods faces a stiff challenge from four fellow Republicans and three vying for the Democrat nominee.
Woods is being challenged by Republican candidates Nelva Lee, Fred “Bubba” Longgrear, Mesha Mainor and Randall E. Trammell.
The Democrat candidates are Anton Anthony, Lydia Powell and Otha Thornton.
