ALBANY, Ga. – Voters are gearing up to head to the polls and election officials get ready for November and those who want to vote absentee can now do so, as the Dougherty County elections office is now accepting absentee applications.
South Georgia Television News Reporter Quinlan Parker spoke with the county’s elections supervisor Ginger Nickerson as the October deadline quickly approaches.
Ginger Nickerson, Dougherty County’s Election Supervisor (SouthGATV/Quinlan Parker)
“Any applications received in our office after Friday October 28th of course will be rejected and our voters will be notified via mail that it was rejected.” said Nickerson.
Ginger says voting by absentee ballot allows constituents the option to cast their ballot by mail rather than in-person. Starting Monday August 22nd, election officials began accepting absentee ballot applications. This gives your ballot enough time to be delivered by mail to the elections registrar. Currently, Nickerson says the lack of poll workers, is her biggest issue.
“We ask our voters to please get out, partner with us, participate in this process.” Nickerson said.
Nickerson adds that they have approximately 180 confirmed polls workers but need 100 more. If there’s not enough poll workers to staff a precinct, they’ll have combine one location with another. During the pandemic, Nickerson says they had to merge 4 precincts into one.
“Now that does not mean the board is voting to close any precincts, that is not permissible by law at this time frame but we will have to facilitate Election Day voting, so in order to do that we will combine that with another location.” said Nickerson.
Nickerson says her office needs enough workers, in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
“In the event that life happens that our individuals are unable to work for a reason, then we want to make sure that we have adequate staffing to ensure that this process is being able to take place.” said Nickerson.
In order to be a poll worker you must be 16 years or older. You can apply for various positions including managers, assistant managers, and clerks with a set rate of pay for each position along with state mandated training provided. If you would like to apply click here.
Listed below are important information/dates and voting deadlines:
Deadline to Submit an Absentee Ballot Application:
Friday, October 28, 2022
Deadline to Submit an Absentee Ballot:
Tuesday, November 8, 2022 by 7:00 PM
OPTIONS FOR SUBMITTING ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Mail:
Dougherty County Voter Registration & Elections Office, P.O. Box 1827, Albany, GA 31702
ELECTION DATE:
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
ADVANCED VOTING DATES & LOCATION:
Monday, October 17, 2022 – Friday, November 4, 2022
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Riverfront Resource Center, located at 125 Pine Avenue, 31701
Last Day to Register to Vote in Runoff Election
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
