The January caucuses and primaries have traditionally set the tone for the country’s presidential elections, but in 2008, it’s a day in February that really matters to the field of presidential candidates.
Dubbed “Super Duper Tuesday,” nearly two-dozen states, including Georgia, are scheduled to hold caucuses or primary elections on Feb. 5, in what will be the largest block of multi-state primary elections in U.S. history.
The Georgia General Assembly voted to move the state’s Presidential Preference Primary up from March 4 to Feb. 5 during last year’s session, a move to ensure Georgia remained “important in the presidential selection process,” according to Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson.
And with the primary pushed up a month, staff members at registrar’s offices across the state are busy keeping up with new deadlines and reminding residents the last day to register and be eligible to vote in the primary is Monday.
To register to vote in Georgia, you must be a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you wish to vote, and at least 18 years old by Election Day.
Anyone currently serving a sentence imposed due to a felony conviction or has been judicially determined to be mentally incompetent is not eligible to register.
Voter registration mail-in forms can be picked up at the Liberty County Voter Registration Office on 102 S. Commerce Street in Hinesville or downloaded from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Web site at www.sos.georgia.gov/elections.
Additionally, the state’s voter identification law, which requires registered voters to show a photo ID when voting in person, will be in effect for the Feb. 5 primary and all future elections

Voters casting ballots in person, either through early voting or on Election Day, will need to show one of the following forms of acceptable photo ID prior to voting:
* A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired;
* Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS);
* Valid U.S. passport;
* 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. military photo ID; or
* Valid tribal photo ID
When voting absentee by mail, photo identification is not required.
For more information on registering to vote, other registration deadlines or primary voting, call the Liberty County Voter Registration at 876-3310.

Contact the writer at awashington@coastalcourier.com