Updated April 29th: There has been some confusion about voting in the upcoming May 24th Primary Election such as who you can vote for and what the significance is of the election. This article will hopefully clear up some confusion regarding the elections for local offices where persons are running by political parties such as Democrat or Republican.
Registering and Voting
First, in order to be eligible to vote in the May 24th primary, you must be registered to vote. If you were not already registered and did not register to vote by or before April 26th, 2016 you will not be eligible to vote in the primary. If you were already properly registered, you do not have to register again.
Second, early voting begins on Monday, May 2 at the Butts County Administration Building. It is only during early voting that you can vote at the Administration Building. Early voting ends at 5PM on May 2oth.
Third, those who do not vote early can still vote on Election Day, which is Tuesday, May 24th BUT they will have to go to their precinct polling place. They cannot vote at the Administration Building on Election Day. We have seen this happen many times where someone will come running in at 10 minutes before the polls close, only to find out that they have to go to their polling place that day. Plan ahead and vote early at the Administration Building so you won’t risk missing out on the vote on election day.
Who can you vote for?
This is a primary election, which means that the ballots will be partisan. The party whose ballot you choose will determine who is on the ballot that you can vote for in the PRIMARY and any RUNOFF that might follow-it does NOT determine who you can vote for in the Fall elections but in this particular election, we have many candidates running in just one party so the ballot you choose will determine who you can vote for.
Democratic Ballot
Commission District 2-There is one Democrat running in this race. This is:
- Robert Henderson (Incumbent)
There are no other Democrats running in any other local Butts County offices or Districts. Only District 2 has a Democrat/Republican contested election.
Republican Ballot
Commission District 1-There are four Republicans running for this seat and no Democrats. These are:
- Tom Eads
- Syd Howell
- Doug King
- Ken Rivers
Commission District 2-There is one Republican running in this race. This is:
- Wren Ward
Commission District 5-There is one Republican running for this seat and no Democrats. This is:
- Russ Crumbley
Sheriff-There are two Republicans running for this seat and no Democrats. They are:
- Al Duke
- Gary Long (Incumbent)
District Attorney-There are two Republicans running for this seat and no Democrats. They are:
- Jonathan Adams
- Richard Milam (Incumbent)
Tax Commissioner-There is one Republican running for this seat and no Democrats. This is:
- Nancy Washington
Clerk of Superior Court-There is one Republican running for this seat and no Democrats. This is:
- Rhonda Smith
Coroner-There is one Republican running for this seat and no Democrats. This is:
- Ralph Wilson
County Surveyor-There is one Republican running for this seat and no Democrats. This is:
- Andy Williams
All other elections for local office including School Board, Magistrate Judge, Probate Judge and Superior Court Judge are non-partisan races and you can vote for those candidates regardless of which ballot you choose. Candidates for these races will appear on either ballot, Democrat or Republican.
Why is this important?
As said earlier in this article, the ballot you choose will determine who you can vote for. For example, a voter in District 2 who chooses a Democratic ballot will be able to vote for only the candidate running for District 2 as a Democrat. Since that candidate has no Democratic opposition, the voter will be casting a vote for the person who is going to be the Democratic nominee for that office anyway. You would also not be able to vote for either candidate running for Sheriff or District Attorney because their names will only appear on the Republican ballot.
Races that are opposed in two parties by single candidates, such as the District 2 Commission Race, are actually not decided in the primary but in the fall, when both candidates stand for election and voters can vote for whichever candidate they choose. Races that are opposed only within a single party, such as the District 1 Commission Race will generally be decided either in the primary or, if none of the four candidates achieve greater than 50% of the vote, in the runoff election held on July 26th. This usually means that the person who will be elected will be decided by July 26th unless an Independent candidate is fielded following the conclusion of the primary and the runoff.
Races such as the Sheriff’s race and the District Attorney’s race will most likely be decided by the primary because all candidates are running in the same party. However this does not preclude the possibility of an Independent candidate running for the office following the primary if they meet the required criteria. In order to vote for a listed candidate in either of these two races, the voter will have to choose a Republican ballot regardless of which district they live in. A voter that chooses a Democratic ballot will not find any of these candidates listed on the ballot.
Key things to remember
- Register to vote by April 26th if you are not already registered.
- Early voting begins May 2nd
- Election Day for the Primary is May 24th
- If you are unsure which ballot you need, contact the Elections office ahead of time and ask them to see a sample ballot for your district. They can generally provide any answers you need about the elections. Their number is 770-775-8202
- VOTE
Sample Ballot Information-Democrat
The example below is intended to demonstrate what would appear on a typical Democratic ballot for Butts County. It is not intended to illustrate an actual elections ballot. It is for informational purposes only. If you have questions, please contact your Elections Department at 770-775-8202. The information below reflects what is currently filed with the Georgia Secretary of State.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 2 – Democratic Ballots in District 2 Only | ||||||||
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Non-Partisan races will appear on this ballot as well, including all candidates for School Board, Magistrate Judge, Probate Judge, Superior Court Judge, etc.
Sample Ballot Information-Republican
The example below is intended to demonstrate what would appear on a typical Republican ballot for Butts County. It is not intended to illustrate an actual elections ballot. It is for informational purposes only. If you have questions, please contact your Elections Department at 770-775-8202. The information below reflects what is currently filed with the Georgia Secretary of State.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 1 – Republican Ballots in District 1 Only | |||||||||
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COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 2 – Republican Ballots in District 2 Only | ||||||||
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COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 5 – Republican Ballots in District 5 Only | ||||||||
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SHERIFF – Republican Ballots Only, All Districts | ||||||||
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CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT – Republican Ballots Only, All Districts | |||||||||
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CORONER – Republican Ballots Only, All Districts | |||||||||
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COUNTY SURVEYOR – Republican Ballots Only, All Districts | |||||||||
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TAX COMMISSIONER | |||||||||
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DISTRICT ATTORNEY, TOWALIGA – Republican Ballots Only, All Districts | ||||||||||
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Non-Partisan races will appear on this ballot as well, including all candidates for School Board, Magistrate Judge, Probate Judge, Superior Court Judge, etc.
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