Early voting kicks off Monday, and there are several contested local, state and federal seats for Newton County voters, including a couple that will be decided outright in the Primary election.
For those who like the tradition of voting at your precinct on election day, Georgia’s 2014 Primary is May 20.
EARLY VOTING IN PERSON
Early voting in person will take place at two locations:
The Board of Elections office at the Newton County Administration Building, 1113 Usher St., Covington
- Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 28 to May 16.
- Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 10 only
Porter Memorial Branch Library, 6181 Ga. Highway 212
- May 12 to May 16 only, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
IDs NEEDED TO VOTE
Georgia driver’s license, even if expired
State or federal government issued photo ID, including government employee IDs, military photo IDs and free voters
ID cards, which can be picked up from the Board of Elections or Georgia Department of Driver Services
U.S. passport
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Voters can also vote by absentee ballot for any election, but they must fill out an application to request one. The applications can be obtained:
- in person at the Board of Elections office
- downloaded from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office website – search “absentee” in the main search bar
- by request the Board of Elections mail you a copy
- Once the application is filled out, it can be delivered to the Board of Elections:
- in person
- by being mailed to P.O. Box 1274, Covington, GA 30015
- by fax at 770-784-2057
- by email to absentee@co.newton.ga.us
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?
In 2010, there were 60,721 registered voters and 12,089 total ballots were cast, a 15.7 percent voter turnout.
Out of those votes, nearly a fifth of ballots (2,250) were cast in early voting.
WHO’S ON THE BALLOT?
Contested primary races for county seats include:
- District 2 Board of Commissioners, Democrats: Lanier Sims (incumbent), Earnest Simmons
- *District 4 Board of Commissioners, Democrats: J.C. Henderson (incumbent), Sonya Hunte and Jacquelyn Smith
- Contested primary races for state seats include:
- District 110 State Representative, Republicans (no incumbent): Aaron Brooks, Dave Belton and Ester Fleming Jr.
- *District 113 State Representative, Democrats: Pam Dickerson (incumbent) and Sharon Sawyer
- Secretary of State, Democrats
- Public Service Commission, Democrats and Republicans
- State School Superintendent, Democrats and Republicans
- Governor, Republican
- Contested primary races for federal seats include:
- *District 4 U.S. Representative, Democrats: Hank Johnson (incumbent) and Tom Brown
- District 10 U.S. Representative, Republicans (no incumbent): Mike Collins, Jody Hice, Gary Gerrard, Donna Sheldon,
- Stephen Simpson, Brian Slowinski and Mitchell Swan
- U.S. Senate, Democrats and Republicans
*Means race will be decided in the primary/runoff as there is no person from the other part seeking the office.
VOTING BASE
As of April 2 – the latest number available from the Board of Elections; the voting registration deadline for the Primary was April 21, so last minute registrants aren’t included – Newton County had 54,997 active voters. The voter breakdown is as follows:
- White – 27,749
- Black – 22,844
- Hispanic – 577
- Asian/pacific islander – 203
