Vote now; know about election changes

Early voting for the May 24 election started Monday at the Office of Elections with several changes due to state regulations, including redistricting and Zebulon citizens set to vote on Election Day at the Pre-K building next to the Pike Auditorium. Early voting will be held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until May 20 as well as Saturday, May 7 and May 14.

Click here for Pike County’s commission districts.

Click here for Pike County’s school board districts.

“Because redistricting was so late, we didn’t get to finish until the middle of March and we went straight into preparations for the next election,” said elections supervisor David Neyhart. “We had to reprint precinct cards for the entire county and we started mailing them April 25.”

Neyhart said redistricting didn’t change precincts for voters but it did change board of education members and commissioners for some residents. 

Other changes include the ballot box being located inside the elections office and all those who will need absentee ballots must request an absentee ballot application and return it to the office. To request an absentee ballot, call the elections office by May 13 at 770-567-2003.

Many local candidates will run unopposed for seats in Pike in the May general primary. Tim Daniel is unopposed for the county commission District 1 and Tim Guy is unopposed for the District 2 commission seat. Allen Edwards has no opposition for the board of education District 2 seat and Floyd Miller is unopposed for the District 6 seat. Brian Hubbard, the current District 1 board of education member, will face Michael Pierce of Williamson for the seat. At the state level, incumbent Beth Camp (R) will face Dan Brue (R) for the District 135 seat and incumbent state Senator Marty Harbin (R) will face Pingke Dubignon (D). 

Sample ballots are displayed at the elections office and exact ballots are available online at the state’s My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov. Click to see sample ballots, including the Republican sample ballot, Nonpartisan sample ballot and Democratic sample ballot.

Election Day is set for Tuesday, May 24 with no early voting on Monday, May 23.