Ware County will have more than 2,100 mailings this month to registered voters who haven’t voted in two consecutive federal elections or had voting activity in another state.
The local group is part of nearly a half million mailings by Georgia to update its voter rolls. The possible cancellations in Ware County amount to about 11 percent of the county’s 20,938 registered voters while statewide the 478,000 total is about to six percent of Georgia’s 8.4 million registrants.
All states monitor the accuracy of their voting rolls periodically. Georgia checks its rolls in oddnumbered years following an election.
In 2017, a record 534,00 voter registrations were removed. Since then, the state has removed between 101,000 to 287,000 at other checks.
“As public stewards of our democratic process, we understand both the necessity of maintaining accurate voter records and the concerns many have about how this process is conducted,” said Carlos Nelson, Ware County Elections Supervisor. “While some may question the purpose, I want to assure every voter that these activities are routine, transparent, and firmly grounded in federal and state law.”
Just because a voter receives a letter doesn’t mean they’ll be removed from the voting roles, Nelson stressed. They have 40 days to respond by returning the document in the mailing indicating their desire to remain on the roll or by contacting their county election office.
“It’s a simple as that,” Nelson said of the process to remain and active voter after the mailing contact.
National Change of Address mailers are sent to voter records that have had inactive status through two consecutive federal general elections.
There have been 1,419 of these sent to Ware County voters whose addresses may have changed, Nelson said. If these voters do not respond or make contact with the elections office within 40 days, their registration will be moved to “canceled” status.
Cross-State mailers are sent to voters in active status who have been identified through Georgia’s membership in the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) as having more recent voting activity or Department of Driver Services activity in another state. Nelson said 692 of these are scheduled to go out to Ware County voters Tuesday, July 22.
No Contact mailings will begin next month to voters for whom the elections office has had no contact (no vote cast, update, or confirmation) in a designated period.
“These are legally required, routine steps used across Georgia to identify voters who may have moved, become inactive, or remain on the rolls despite extended non-participation,” explained Nelson. “If you receive a notice and wish to remain on the rolls, please respond promptly. If you’ve moved out of state, please notify our office so you can be removed from Georgia’s rolls and register in your new state.”
Locally, Nelson said citizens can check their registration status at mvp.sos.ga.gov or contact the Ware County Board of Elections and Registration office at (912) 287-4363 or elections@ warecountyga. gov. People update name or address if they’ve moved, married or had a legal name change.
Those who no longer are Georgia residents can request removal from the Ware County voter roll.
