Georgia’s Presidential Preference Primary is less than two weeks away, and voters in Baldwin County can cast their ballots ahead of time with no waiting if they so choose.
Early voting began last Monday, Feb. 19, and continues this week and next at the Government Building on North Columbia Street. Votes may be cast Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. both weeks, as well as 9 a.m.-4 p.m. this Saturday. According to the figures released by Chief Deputy Randy Morrow this past Tuesday, turnout thus far has been light.
“In person, we’ve voted 377 as of yesterday,” he said. “For absentees, we’ve got 149 out, and so far 61 have been returned.” There are currently 28,161 registered voters in Baldwin County, Morrow said.
Friday, March 1, will be the last day to vote early, the registrar said.
“We will spend Saturday (March 2) doing L & A tests, logic, and accuracy, on the machines at the polls,” he stated.
Voters do not have to declare themselves as members of either political party, but they must choose to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary. On the Democratic ballot, President Joe Biden is being challenged by Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson, though it is a foregone conclusion he will be that party’s nominee.
The prohibitive Republican favorite, former President Donald Trump, faces 10 opponents on the Georgia ballot: Ryan L. Binkley, Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Perry Johnson, Vivek Ramaswarmy, Tim Scott, and David Stuckenberg.
Though she was beaten soundly last week in her home state, former South Carolina Governor Haley is the only candidate still actively campaigning. Numerous states will hold Presidential Primaries on ‘Super Tuesday’, March 5, and Haley’s fate, if not already so, may be sealed before Georgia voters have their say.
Morrow said the primary in May, with local offices on the ballot, and the November General Election, will attract more attention and voters.
“This is kind of a lull,” he said of the March vote. “A lot of people don’t participate in it because they don’t see the benefit of it. Some people won’t get out to vote.”
For those who do exercise their right to make their choice for a presidential nominee on March 12, Morrow said all that is needed to vote is a photo ID.
“A driver’s license, state ID card, military card, are all good,” he declared. “If they don’t have one, we can make an ID card for them, but it is only good for voting, nothing else. It’s a felony to use it for anything else.”