The July 31 primary is only a few weeks away, but Bryan County residents still have a little time left to register to cast their vote on Election Day.
Monday is the official deadline to register, and voter registration forms must be submitted or postmarked by the end of business, according to Bryan County Chief Registrar Warren Miller.
Registration forms can be found at the Voter Registration Office at the county courthouse in Pembroke, or the county administrative building in Richmond Hill. City halls and public libraries in both Pembroke and Richmond Hill also have forms, Miller said.
He encouraged residents who plan to mail their registration forms to request the envelope be postmarked on Monday because the post office doesn’t necessarily have to postmark it for that day, he said.
Forms are also available on the Secretary of State’s website. There, not only can residents get information about registering to vote, but by visiting the My Voter Page, they can also check their voter status, precincts and view a sample ballot, he said.
“The new precinct cards went out, but there has been a massive change (in precincts) because of the census,” Miller said. “The Board of Education and county commissioners drew new district lines, so there is a good possibility (voters will) be going to a different precinct polling place. They might want to check on that ahead of time.”
Miller estimated there are about 21,000 registered voters in Bryan County, with about 72 percent of voters in South Bryan and 28 percent of voters in North Bryan. He said the Voter Registration Office has seen a spike in registrations.
“The last couple of weeks or so it has been a little heavier because of the primary and local people — that generates more involvement,” he said.
Anyone registering to vote must show proof of U.S. citizenship, residency of Georgia and residency in the county in which they wish to cast a ballot. Those registering also must be at least 17 and a half years old but 18 to vote.
Those serving a sentence for conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude and those who have been found mentally incompetent by a judge may not register.
Forms can be dropped off at the County Administrative Complex in Richmond Hill or at the Voter Registration Office in Pembroke. Residents can also mail the forms to the Voter Registration Office at P.O. Box 1526, Pembroke, Ga., 31321, or to the Secretary of State’s office at Elections Division, 802 Floyd West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE, Atlanta, Ga. 30334
For more information, visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.state.ga.us, or call the Voter Registration Office at 653-3859.