Along with the county seat of Hinesville, the municipalities of Riceboro, Walthourville and Allenhurst will be holding city elections this fall, according to Liberty County Elections Supervisor Ella Golden.
The city of Hinesville will hold qualifying for candidates planning to run for any of the six city council seats or for mayor from Aug. 19-23, according to city clerk Sarah Lumpkin. Candidates can qualify from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day during that week.
The qualifying fee for mayor is $720. The fee to run for city council is $360.
According to the city’s charter, “A candidate for mayor may not offer for election unless such person has been a resident of the city of Hinesville for at least 12 months immediately preceding the date of the municipal election. If the mayor moves his legal residence from the city, the office of mayor shall immediately become vacant.”
As with the mayor, a candidate for city council must also show residency for one year preceding the date of the municipal election. If they relocate from their legal residence in the district they represent, then their place on the council would also become vacant, according to the city charter.
Candidates for mayor and council seats must also be at least 21 years of age, and cannot have been convicted of a felony “involving moral turpitude.”
Early voting will be held at the Historical Courthouse, 100 Main Street, in Hinesville, from Oct. 15-Nov. 1, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Voters Registration Office is in the Historical Courthouse, 100 N. Main Street, Suite 1600 in downtown Hinesville.
The municipal polling place for the city of Hinesville is at the Charles M. Shuman Recreation Center, 800 C Tupelo Trail. Polls will be open for Election Day, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
In the city of Riceboro, qualifying for the municipal election begins Monday, Aug. 19, at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, according to city clerk Malinda McIver. Qualifying will take place at Riceboro City Hall, 4614 S. Coastal Highway in Riceboro.
The qualifying fee for mayoral candidates is $900; for city council seats the fee is $360.
Early voting will be held at the John D. McIver Auditorium, 9397 East Oglethorpe Highway in Midway from Oct. 15, through Nov. 1, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.; with the exception of Columbus Day on Oct. 14 when the J.D. McIver Auditorium will be closed.
The polling place on Election Day for the City of Riceboro’s municipal election will be held at the Riceboro Youth Center, 5649 South Coastal Highway, on Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Qualifying for the Walthourville city election will be held from Aug. 19-23, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at Walthourville City Hall, 222 Busbee Road, in the city clerk’s office.
The qualifying fee for mayor is $432; for a city council member the fee is $216.
The polling place for Walthourville’s municipal election is the Walthourville Police Department, 192B Talmadge Road. If there is a need for a runoff election, it would be held Dec. 3.
The last day for residents to register to vote in city elections is Oct. 7.
The city of Midway held its city election in November 2017, and so will hold its next municipal election in 2021.