It’s a presidential election year, which means more voting than usual and for the need-to-know, which is everyone that can vote, there are a lot of important dates to know. Here we break down those dates along with some voting information from Newton County Board of Elections and Registration Director Angela Mantle.
Important Dates:
Feb. 8 - Early Voting begins
March 1 - Primary Election date
Oct. 11 - Voter registration deadline (General Election)
Oct. 17 - Early voting begins (General Election)
Nov. 8 - Election Day (General Election)
“It is important to vote because it is part of your civil duty,” Mantle said. “By voting, you are deciding the officials that will represent you in the different levels of government: local, state, and federal.”
Any registered voter in Newton County may cast a ballot prior to Election Day during the early voting period. Early voting begins Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 and ends on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. The hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday at the Newton County Administration Building located at 1113 Usher Street. There will also be Saturday voting on Feb. 20 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Newton County Administration Building. Early voting will also take place at the satellite location, Porter Memorial Branch Library located at 6191 Highway 212, Covington. The satellite voting days and times are Monday, Feb. 22 to Friday, Feb. 26 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Voters wishing to vote early at the Newton County Administration Building will need to use the entrance off Pace Street designated for advance voting. Any voter unable to climb the stairs may use the side handicap accessible entrance.
Voters will need to present acceptable photo identification in order to vote. There is no voting on the Monday prior to the Primary Election Day. On the Primary Election Day (March 1), voters will need to go to their assigned polling location.
A person may check his/her registration status and polling location be visiting the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do. Sample ballots are also available on the My Voter Page.