VOTER GUIDE

 VOTER EDUCATION GUIDE


 

 

VOTER EDUCATION GUIDE

MCINTOSH COUNTY

BOARD OF ELECTIONS & VOTER REGISTRATION

103 JEFFERSON STREET

DARIEN, GEORGIA 31305

PHONE: 912-437-6605  FAX NUMBER: 912-437-5041

egale@mcintoshcounty-ga.gov

 

 

Dear McIntosh County Voter:

This guide is created to provide voters nonpartisan, unbiased information about voting in McIntosh County.

In this guide you will find information on:

     .  How to register to vote

     . Ways to cast your vote by absentee by mail, absentee in   person (early voting) and Election Day voting

     .  Accepted IDs at the polls

     .  Information and Resources

     .  Elected Officials Information

     .  County Contact Information

Our experience tells us informed voters are confident voters!  We hope this Voter Education Guide helps you identify your connection to the electoral process and helps to make you an informed voter.  Important decisions are made on each and every ballot and your participation in all Federal, State and Local elections strengthens our democracy.  It is important that you participate in all elections!  McIntosh County Board of Elections and Registration and our staff are here to assist you and to make your voting experience a pleasurable one.

We look forward to serving you!

Sincerely, 

Elenore ”Doll” Gale

Election Supervisor

 

Who is the McIntosh County Board of Elections and Registration?

The McIntosh County Board of Elections & Registration is a combine board that was created by an act of legislation by the Georgia General Assembly.  The Board is made up of 5 appointed members.  The Election Supervisor is not a member of the Board, informs the Board of the day-to-day operation of the Elections office and communicates important information handed down from the Georgia Secretary of State.  Three members of which should be appointed by the party last prevailing in the election of the Governor of the State of Georgia, and two of which should be appointed by the party having secured the next highest number of votes in the most recent election of the Governor.  So, the Republican Party has three Board members, and the Democrat Party has two Board members. (House Bill 546 was passed in 2015-2016). Each member serves a 4-year term.  There is no limit on terms and the terms are staggered.  The Board is funded by the taxpayers of McIntosh County through the County budget.

Election Types.

There are several types of elections that are conducted in the State of Georgia.  Presidential Preference Primary (PPP), Primary Election, General Elections and Special Elections.

Presidential Preference Primary

O.C.G.A. 21-2-191 states “Such primary shall be held in each year in which a presidential election is to be conducted on a date selected by the Secretary of State which shall not be later than the second Tues in June in Such year.  The Secretary of State shall select such date no later than December 1 of the year immediately preceding such primary”.

In the State of Georgia, the PPP is normally held on the first Tuesday in March.

This election is conducted to nominate a presidential candidate to be on the November General Election ballot.

 

 

Primary Elections

O.C.G.A. 21-2-150 states ”Whenever any political party holds a primary to nominate candidates for public offices to be filled in the ensuing November, such primary shall be held on the Tuesday of the twenty-fourth week prior to the November General Election in each even-numbered year or, in the case of municipalities, on the third Tuesday in July in Each odd-numbered year.”   In the State of Georgia, the May Primary occurs 24 weeks prior the General Election.

Primary Elections are conducted to nominate candidates to be on the November General Election ballot.  During a Primary Election, you are required to select a ballot style, Democratic, Republican, or Nonpartisan.  Nonpartisan ballots only contain Judges.

Georgia is a non-declaring State.  You are not registered with any political parties.  The ballot style that you choose does not register you with a party.  It only provides you with a ballot style that will contain that party’s candidates.

 

General Elections

General Elections are conducted on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.  In a General Election, you will see the candidates that were nominated in the Primary Election.  The General Election is the election that elects the candidate into office.

In a General Elections, you do not have to choose a ballot style.  All candidates and parties are on one ballot.

Special Elections

Special Elections take place under special circumstances.  A Special election may occur to fill a vacancy due to the death, or resignation of an elected official, or can be for a special referendum, or question.  Most Special Elections are held in conjunction with a Primary Election or General Election.  However, there are dates set aside in the law of when Special elections can be conducted when not in conjunction with a primary or General Election.

 

O.C.G.A. 21-2-540 states:

In odd-numbered years, any such special election shall only be held on: The third Tuesday in March; The third Tuesday in June; The third Tuesday in September; or The Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

In even-numbered years, any such special election shall only be held on:  The third Tuesday in March; provided, however, that in the event that a special election is to be held under this provision in a year in which a presidential preference primary is to be held, then any such special elections shall be held on the date of and in conjunction with the presidential preference primary;  The date of the general primary; or the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Runoff Elections are held 28 days after the regular election date.

In a Primary election, it is important for voters to know that you must vote the same ballot style in the runoff election as you did in the Primary Election.  If you voted a nonpartisan ballot in the Primary Election, you may choose a ballot style of your choice.

If you did not vote in the primary Election, you ARE eligible to vote in the runoff election and choose the ballot style of your choice.

QUESTION:

How do I request a Mail-In Absentee Ballot?

Contact the Election Office at 912-437-6605.  You can email us at egale@mcintoshcounty-ga.gov  or go to www.mvp.sos.ga.gov

ALL VOTED ABSENTEE BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED INTO THE ELECTION OFFICE ON ELECTION DAY BY 7:00 P.M. IN ORDER TO BE COUNTED. 


Helpful Tips concerning Paper Absentee Ballots:

  •  Do not place more than one ballot in the oath envelope.  Ballots are issued individually.  Do not place your spouse’s, child or any other person’s ballot in the same envelope with your ballot.  Both ballots will be rejected and will not count.
  •   Do not sign your name on your actual ballot.  Law prohibits this.  Your ballot will be rejected and will not count.
  • If you do not receive your ballot in a timely manner (5-7 days after submitting your application), contact the office IMMEDIATELY at 912-437-6605.
  • Verify that the correct ballot has been issued to you for your district.
  • The Drop Box is located inside of the election office and is available to return your absentee ballot during office hours. (8:00 am to 5:00pm)

 

VOTER REGISTRATION

Ways to Register to vote:

ONLINE:

Online at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov  You must have a valid Georgia Driver’s License to use this site.  Once you have submitted your registration, it will arrive on our County Election Dashboard the following morning for processing.

Paper Application:

Paper applications are available in the Election Office, County Libraries, and public assistance offices.  

Voter Registration Card (Precinct Card)

Once you are registered to vote by the Election Office Staff, you will receive a voter registration/precinct card in the mail.  It takes 15-20 business days to receive the card.  Voters are encouraged to verify the information on the card.  Please alert the Election Office is there is an issue.  Your voter registration card is to inform you of your polling location and political districts.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THIS CARD TO VOTE.  

 

IMPORTANT:

Please keep your voter registration up to date.  If you move, or change your name, you must notify us immediately.  Should you move to another County or State, you must register to vote in that County or State.  YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION DOES NOT FOLLOW YOU.  YOU MAY ONLY REGISTER TO VOTE IN ONE STATE.  YOU CANNOT HAVE MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS.  VOTING TWICE IS AN OFFENSE PUNISHABLE BY LAW.

 

VOTING PRECINCT FOR MCINTOSH COUNTY:

DISTRICT 1 – DARIEN- 1771ST PRECINCT – DARIEN FIRE STATION,700 NORTHWAY ST.  HIGHWAY 17, DARIEN, GA. 

DISTRICT 2 – NORTH DARIEN – 271ST PRECINCT – DARIEN CHURCH OF GOD GYM, LOCATED AT 1140 BLOUNTS CROSSING RD SE, DARIEN, GA.

DISTRICT 3 – CRESCENT – 1515TH PRECINCT – CRESCENT FIRE STATION LOCATED 1127 OLD TRAIL RD NE, TOWNSEND, GA. 

DISTRICT 3 – SAPELO ISLAND- 1312TH PRECINCT – SAPELO SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER – 2337 EAST/WEST AUTOBAHM RD. SAPELO ISLAND, GA.

DISTRICT 4 – SOUTH NEWPORT – 22ND PRECINCT – SHELLMAN BLUFF FIRE STATION, 6572 SHELLMAN BLUFF ROAD NE, TOWNSEND, GA.



FOR ADVANCE/EARLY VOTING, LOCATION IS THE ELECTION OFFICE LOCATED AT 

103 JEFFERSON STREET, DARIEN, GA.