Public weighs in on advance voting locations, days and hours

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – About two dozen people attended the Board of Registrations and Elections cycle to learn more about the proposed advance voting locations and voting hours for the 2022 election cycle.

The Board recommended the Elections Office, Hampton Park Library, Sharon Springs Park Community and Midway Park Community Building be utilized for advance voting on the following schedule:

• Voting at the Elections Office be available throughout the advance voting period (May 2 through May 20 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday voting will be held on May 7 and 14. During the final week of advance voting (May 16 through May 20) voting hours will be from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.
• Voting at Hampton Park, Sharon Springs Park and Midway Park will be available from May 9 through May 13 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. with Saturday voting on May 14 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
• During the final week of advance voting (May 16-20) voting will be available at all the above locations from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The General Primary election will be held on May 24 with the General Primary Runoff set for June 21 and the General Election Nov. 8 and General Election Runoff Dec. 6

Board Chairman Barbara Luth read a resolution of appreciation to Secretary Randy Ingram for his years of service on the Forsyth County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections.

Several people who spoke during the public comment period recommended that voting hours be extended and that voting take place on every Saturday and Sunday throughout the advance voting period.

Vice Chairman Joel Natt asked Director Mandy Smith to bring a staff recommendation on Sunday voting to the Feb. 11 meeting.

Brandon Smith said only 16 of Georgia’s 159 counties offer Sunday voting and he called on Forsyth County and all counties to offer at least one Sunday voting opportunity. He added that Hall and Cherokee officials have agreed to add at least one Sunday to their advance voting schedule.

Gary Landon said he does not like the idea of Sunday voting. “I rise in opposition to Sunday voting,” he said. “I know this won’t be a popular idea but my position would be to go back to one day of voting the way we used to have it. It would be a national holiday.”