Charlotte Sleczkowski, chair of the Towns County Democrats, reminds voters who wish to vote by absentee ballot in the November non-partisan municipal elections in Hiawassee and Young Harris they may now submit an application.
At the Democrats’ August meeting, Sleczkowski noted that the application period for absentee ballots opened on Monday, Aug. 16, or 11 weeks prior to the Nov. 2 municipal elections. The opening date for requesting applications is later this year as provided by Georgia’s new election law. The previous opening date was 180 days prior to the election.
Applications may be obtained in person at the Towns County Board of Elections and Registration in Hiawassee or through the Georgia Secretary of State’s office website.
Sleczkowski noted the last day to request an absentee ballot application is Oct. 22, 2021, or 11 days prior to the election. This is also a newly mandated deadline, as the previous last day was one week prior to the election. The additional time gives local elections officials extra time to process absentee ballots.
After the completed application is filed with the local elections office, an absentee ballot will be mailed to the requesting voter beginning Oct. 12, which is three weeks prior to the election. Completed absentee ballots must be received in the elections office by 7 p.m. on election day.
At the Democrats’ July meeting, Dr. Janet Oliva, chair of the county elections board, said “rollover ballots” are still available to voters age 65 and over and to disabled voters who mark their absentee ballot application accordingly. The rollover allows the eligible voter to continue to receive absentee ballots throughout the voting cycle without reapplying, such as for a runoff municipal election which would take place on Nov. 30 if needed.
Sleczkowski stated that voters will need to reapply for absentee ballots for the 2022 cycle of elections for state and federal offices.
The county’s single drop box for completed absentee ballots will be available only inside the elections office in Hiawassee only during the office’s business hours, which typically are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., according to local elections officials. The drop box also will be available during early voting hours, including Saturdays (Oct. 16 and 23). In Towns County, early voting hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and start Oct. 12. Election-day voting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
