If you plan on voting in the presidential primary and haven’t already done so, you need to register by Monday.
That according to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensburger’s office and the Liberty County AARP Senior Center, which sent out a press release earlier this week reminding news outlets to remind their audience to sign up to vote.
The last day to register in the March 24 presidential primary is Feb. 24. Advance voting begins March 2.
And if you plan on running for local office, time’s running out to make it official, according to Ella Golden, Liberty County’s chief registrar and elections supervisor.
Qualifying runs from March 2-6 and there are a number countywide offices up for grabs in Liberty County, including that of sheriff, tax commissioner, coroner, clerk of superior court, probate court judge, chief magistrate, state court solicitor and state court judge.
Also open are the county commission chairman’s seat and three seats on the county commission – Districts 4, 5 and 6.
Districts 1, 2 and 3 on the Liberty County school board are also up for election this year.
The general primaries for local races are in May. The general election is Nov. 3.
As for how we vote, this election marks the first time voters statewide will use Georgia’s new ballot system, according to the press release.
“The secure paper-ballot system is in place to provide voters assurance their ballots are secure. Georgians need to do their part by registering,” Raffensperger said, in the press release. “We have made registering easy and convenient, which is why the number of Georgia voters is soaring.”
There are more than 7.2 million registered voters in Georgia. More than 460,000 people registered to vote last year, 78 percent did automatically through the Department of Driver Services, the state said.
It notes all Georgians should check their voter registration information to make sure they are still registered where they currently reside.
Voters are encouraged to use the My Voter Page (MVP) website (https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov).
If voters are not able to locate their registration using the MVP website, or information on the MVP website is not accurate, they can submit a new voter registration application or update the information in your existing registration online at this link: https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov
Registration is also possible at county elections offices, state agencies that provide food stamps and Medicaid and mental health, military recruiting centers and public libraries.
Preparations for the Presidential Preference Primary includes the removal of the 18-year-old voting machines and delivery to every county of the new secure paper-ballot system, as well as technical support and training to county elections supervisors who are responsible for training the poll workers they hire locally.
The paper-ballot system has been used in six counties in a pilot during the November municipal elections and then the December runoff. It was also used in special elections in a total of 12 counties held Jan. 28 and Feb. 4.
An important feature of the new system is the ability to audit the results. Two public audits, using different methods, have already demonstrated the accuracy and reliability of the results, Raffensperger’s office said.
To educate voters on ways Georgia is protecting election integrity, Raffensperger launched Secure the Vote. More information is online at SecureVoteGa.com .
Georgia offers automatic voter registration through the Department of Driver Services, three weeks of early voting – including a Saturday, and no-excuse absentee voting. It is the top state in the number of motor voter registrations and, in the last election cycle, experienced record registration and a record increase in turnout, according to the SOS office.
For more information about local elections, contact the Liberty County Board of Elections at (912) 876-3310.