MACON, Ga. — Elections officers and secretaries of state are gearing up for National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 17, but much of Macon-Bibb County’s work is already done.
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau figures, only about 2% of Macon-Bibb’s voting age population is not registered to vote.
The Bureau estimates about 118,504 of the county’s 156,197 residents are aged 18 and over. The Macon-Bibb Board of Elections reported 115,996 active and inactive voters at its August meeting..
“The good problem that we have is we have a ton of Bibb County already registered,” Macon-Bibb County Elections Supervisor Tom Gillon said. “I suspect the driver’s license bureau, the ability to register that way, really drove the numbers up.”
In case the estimated 2,500 eligible citizens decide to register, the local elections office plans to post signs about National Voter Registration Day and be ready in case there is an influx of people coming in to register on Sept. 17. A QR code on the poster links to the nationalvoterregistrationday.org website which allows people to register online.
Gillon pointed out that anyone who is six months past their 17th birthday can register to vote.
“Obviously, you can’t vote until you’re 18, but anyone who’s capable of being registered, we want them to do that,” he said.
National Voter Registration Day kicked off in 2012 as a “nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to celebrating our democracy,” according to a news release from the nonprofit VOTE organization.
The National Association of Secretaries of State, the National Association of State Election Directors, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and the National Association of Election Officials all endorse the holiday.
Oct. 7 is the last day to register to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 General Election.
Early voting begins at Macon Mall, the Elaine Lucas Senior Center at Carolyn Crayton Park and Therron Ussery Park on Tuesday, Oct. 15 due to the Columbus Day holiday on Monday.
“Everyone who’s registered, we would love to have them vote,” Gillon said. “Just being registered doesn’t do you any good if you don’t use it.”
Better access at Macon Mall
For this year’s advanced voting, Gillon confirmed that handicapped and elderly voters will be able cast ballots at the Macon-Bibb County Courthouse Annex, which will have polls set up in the old Sears garden center which has curbside access.
“The hale and hearty young voters can make the pilgrimage back to our office, here. And we may be able to have the (absentee) ballot box in the annex lobby,” Gillon said.
Georgia’s new election law prohibits absentee ballot boxes outside. They must be inside an elections office, continually monitored by staff and under camera surveillance.
The Macon-Bibb Board of Elections’ attorney is expected to confirm whether the new courtroom facility would satisfy the requirements of the law. Poll workers will be stationed at the annex during voting hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the weekdays and from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. for Saturday voting on Oct.19 and 26.
The local board of elections has the option of scheduling Sunday voting during this election cycle.
For voters who cannot make it to the polls, the last day to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 26.
In the more than five weeks leading up to early voting, the board of elections staff continues to double-check voting districts after some ballot confusion in the nonpartisan election and general primary. The quick turnaround after the court mandated redistricting earlier this year led to some errors.
“We’re working to fix any remaining issues we have,” Gillon said.
Staff has been confirming district lines and street addresses to make sure they are correct.
Over the next month, technicians will prepare machines, printers and equipment for early voting sites. Gillon also needs to hire more temporary poll workers to staff precincts on Nov. 5.
“You only have to be 16 to be a poll worker, so, high school students, if they want to come in, we’d be more than happy to get them applied and see if we can find a spot for them,” Gillon said.
Poll workers are paid and the students’ time could also be applied to their required community service. There are no part-time positions, so poll workers must be able to work from 6 a.m. until election duties are finished, which is typically by about 9 p.m. on election day.
Online applications specify that workers must reside in Bibb County or work for the county. They must be able to read, write and speak the English language, submit to a criminal background check and have their own transportation.
Elected officials are prohibited from serving as poll officers and close family members cannot work at a precinct where a relative’s name appears on the ballot.
All poll workers are required to attend training before the election.
— Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities and can be reached at fabian_lj@mercer.edu or 478-301-2976.