Important election dates and sample ballot for Towns County

HIAWASSEE, Ga – The 2020 General Election is on November 3, and early voting begins on October 12. For anyone interested, please review the official sample ballot below.

Races include President, both United States Senate Seats, House of Representatives District Nine, Public Service Commissioner, State Senator District 50, General Assembly District Eight, Probate Court Judge, Clerk of Superior Court, Sheriff, Tax Commissioner, Coroner, County Commissioner, and Blue Ridge Mountain Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor.

Two state constitutional amendments are on the ballot. House Resolution 164 Act No. 597 authorizes the dedication of fees and taxes to their intended purposes by general state law. In other words, if a tax is intended to assist with garbage clean up, then this amendment would ensure the money went toward that purpose. House Resolution 1023 Act No.596 waives state and local sovereign immunity for violation of state laws, state, and federal constitutions. It would allow Georgia citizens to petition the superior court for relief for acts outside the lawful authority scope.

A statewide referendum, House Bill 344 Act No. 149, would except all real estate owned by a purely public charity from the ad valorem tax if the charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code.

Towns County residents can already request an absentee ballot for the election and are highly encouraged to mail it back in as soon as possible.

Early voting will run from October 12 to 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Board of Elections office. It will be open through lunch each day as well. Additionally, Saturday voting will take place on October 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All COVID-19 precautions will be in place, and they recommend the public wear masks, but they aren’t required. The elections officials will have PPE on-hand, hand sanitizer and masks.

On election day, all three precincts in Towns County will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If anyone is interested in being a poll worker, training will occur on Saturday, October 10, at the Civic Center from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please arrive a little early, so elections officials can adequately set up the training room.