Public weighs in on advance voting locations, days and hours
News February 4, 2022
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.”
Local high school students assist election officials in preparing polling locations for Nov. 3 election
News, Press Release October 25, 2020
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Throughout October, high school students from various Forsyth County schools have assisted the Forsyth County Board of Elections with preparing polling locations ahead of the Nov. 3 General and Special Election.
On various Saturdays, students have helped with the sorting and packing of COVID-19 supplies and preparing other needed materials that will be used at polling places.
The supplies assembled include over 10,000 individual packages of gloves, individual packages of hand sanitizer wipes, PPE masks and various documents used at the polls, among other items.
“We were thrilled to have these students volunteer their time and effort,” said Assistant Secretary and Republican Representative to the Board of Elections Joel Natt. “Considering the amount of extra work needed for the County to conduct a successful 2020 election season during unique circumstances, we needed to look outside our normal resource pool to help us prepare.”
Dozens of students, representing the majority of high schools in the County, participated in the volunteer opportunities.
In addition to the students’ help, the Forsyth County Voter Registrations and Elections Department has received assistance from other County departments including Senior Services, Information Systems and Technology, the Fire Department, the Sheriff’s Office and others in preparations ahead of the election season.
“Without the help of the students and other various departments in Forsyth County, we do not think we could have accomplished everything we needed to for this election,” said Chairwoman for the Board of Elections Barbara Luth.