Early voting on $60 million SPLOST starts Monday
News February 21, 2021
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — The dust has barely settled following January’s special election in Georgia’s U.S. Senate race but Dawson County Republicans and Democrats will return to the polls starting Monday (Feb 22) to vote on a $60 million, 6-year Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
Early voting will last until Friday, March 12. Local voters can vote early at the Dawson County Elections Office, 96 Academy Avenue in Dawsonville, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The polls will be open on Election Day, March 16, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The cost of the county’s list of proposed projects totals $45,320,000. Included on the list of major projects are: Road and culvert projects ($16.4 million); Construction of a new Emergency Operations Center and E911 communications system ($8.5 million): Fire station replacement ($3 million); Public works vehicles and equipment ($2.5 million); Construction of a new public health facility ($2.5 million) and ambulance replacement ($2.3 million).
The City of Dawsonville’s proposed list totals $6.18 million. Included are: Deep patch repair, milling and repaving of roads ($2 million),; Construction of tertiary waste water plant ($2.12 million) and Main Street Park Phases 3 and 4 ($605,000).
For more information about polling locations, how to request a ballot and to view a sample ballot, visit the “My Voter Page” at https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp or call (706) 344-3640.
765 in-person ballots cast on first day of voting
News December 15, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – The county elections office reported today (Dec. 15) that 765 in-person votes were cast on the first day of advance voting in the General Election Runoff for state and federal offices.
Voters tend to turn out in lower numbers for runoff elections. By contrast, the November general election with President Donald Trump on the ballot attracted 930 voters on the first day of advance voting.
“It was a pretty heavy first day for a runoff,” said Brittany Payne in the elections office.
The Senate races between incumbent Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and Democrat Rev. Ralph Warnock and Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Jon Ossoff have major national as well as statewide importance. Republicans must win at least one of the races to maintain a majority in the U.S. Senate.
Just how important the races are can be gauged by the amount of money, particularly outside-the-state-money, the candidates have collected. One recent report shows that the four candidates have spent in excess of $400 million on advertising so far. Estimates indicate more than 90 percent of the donations have come from outside Georgia.
Advance voting will continue for three weeks. Election Day is Jan. 5 when all precincts will be open from 7a.m. until 7 p.m.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Advance voting starts Monday in high stakes Senate race
News December 11, 2020
Sen. David Perdue
Jon Ossoff
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. — One of the most important elections in U.S. history will take place Jan. 5 when Georgia Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue face Democrat challengers Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff respectively in the General Runoff. The eyes of the nation will be on Georgia to learn which party will control the U.S. Senate during the next administration.
Advanced voting will begin Monday Dec. 14 and continue Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. until Dec. 31. All voting will take place at the Board of Elections Office, 96 Academy Ave. in Dawsonville. There will be no Saturday voting and the office will be closed for Christmas Holiday Dec. 24 and 25 and Jan. 1. On Jan. 5 voters will report to their respective precincts which will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Sen. Kelly Loeffler
Raphael Warnock
The county has provided ad Official Absentee Ballot Drop Box located at the Board of Elections office; 96 Academy Avenue,
The other race on the ballot is for District 4 Public Service Commissioner where incumbent Republican Lauren Bubba McDonald Jr. will face Democrat Daniel Blackman.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
First-day advanced voting turnout more than doubles 2016 first-day record
News, Politics October 13, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Dawson County Republican Party Chairwoman Seannie Zappendorf’s concern about voter complacency can be laid to rest. Voters in her home county went to the polls in very large numbers Monday.
On the first day of advanced voting, Dawson County voters cast 930 votes that is more than double the 444 votes cast on the first day of advanced voting in the 2016 Presidential Election.
Board of Elections and Registrations Director Glenda Ferguson said, “That’s a lot of people and everything went smoothly. Generally 20 minutes was the longest wait. I think the average was about 10 minutes and we had no complaints so I’d say it went very smoothly.”
Glenda Ferguson
It was a much different experience than in some of the metro Atlanta counties like DeKalb and Fulton where voters waited in long lines for up to 10 hours.
Ferguson noted that there were 76 cancellations which involved voters who sent in absentee ballots by mail but then decided to vote in person. Those voters were required to sign an affidavit showing their mail-in ballot was being cancelled before voting in person.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
It’s time Georgia voters make their voices heard Advanced voting begins today!
News October 12, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – For months Republican and Democrat candidates up and down the ballot have spoken loudly about their campaigns. Starting today (Oct. 12) the voters in Georgia begin to speak when Advanced Voting begins.
Advanced voting will continue Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. until Oct.30. Voters wishing to vote on Saturday may do so on Oct, 24 from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. All Saturday and advanced voting will take place at the Dawson County Elections and Voter Registration Office, 96 Academy Avenue.
There is also an official absentee ballot drop box where voters can drop off absentee ballot applications and/or ballots without leaving their cars. The red drop box is located outside the Elections Office and is properly labeled and video monitored.
Election Day is Nov. 3 when all Dawson County precincts will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
The following is the official ballot:
For President of the United States
(Vote for One)
Donald J. Trump – President (Incumbent) Republican
Michael R. Pence – Vice President (Incumbent) Republican
Joseph R. Biden – President Democrat
Kamala D. Harris – Vice President Democrat
Jo Jorgensen – President Libertarian
Jeremy “Spike” Cohen – Vice President Libertarian
Write-in
For United States Senate
(Vote for One)
David A. Perdue (Incumbent) Republican
Jon Ossoff Democrat
Shane Hazel Libertarian
Write-in
For United States Senate (To Fill the Unexpired Term of Johnny Isakson, Resigned)
(Vote for One)
Al Bartell Independent
Allen Buckley Independent
Doug Collins Republican
John Fortuin Green
Derrick E. Grayson Republican
Michael Todd Greene Independent
Annette Davis Jackson Republican
Deborah Jackson Democrat
Jamesia James Democrat
- Wayne Johnson Republican
Tamara Johnson-Shealey Democrat
Matt Lieberman Democrat
Kelly Loeffler (Incumbent) Republican
Joy Felicia Slade Democrat
Brian Slowinski Libertarian
Valencia Stovall Independent
Ed Tarver Democrat
Kandiss Taylor Republican
Raphael Warnock Democrat
Richard Dien Winfield Democrat
Write-in
For Public Service Commissioner (To Succeed Jason Shaw)
(Vote for One)
Jason Shaw (Incumbent) Republican
Robert G. Bryant Democrat
Elizabeth Melton Libertarian
Write-in
For Public Service Commissioner
(Vote for One)
Lauren Bubba McDonald, Jr. (Incumbent) Republican
Daniel Blackman Democrat
Nathan Wilson Libertarian
Write-in
For U.S. Representative in 117th Congress From the 9th Congressional District of Georgia
(Vote for One)
Andrew Clyde Republican
Devin Pandy Democrat
Write-in
UPDATE: Dawson County candidate qualifying: Day 1
News March 2, 2020
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – The following is an update of the candidates that qualified to run in county, state and federal races through Tuesday:
COUNTY RACES
Board of Commissioners Chairman — Billy Thurmond (I), Renee Duren
County Commissioner District 2 – Chris Gaines (I)
County Commissioner District 4 Emory Dooley
Sheriff – Jeff Johnson (I), Marcus Sewell
Clerk of Superior Court – Justin Power (I)
Probate Court Judge – Jennifer Burt (I)
Tax Commissioner – Nicole Stewart (I)
Board of Education District 4 Roger Slaton (I)
STATE RACES
State Rep. District 9 – Clint Smith, Will Wade
FEDERAL RACES
US Congress District 9 –Michael Boggus, Andrew Clyde, State Rep. Matt Gurtler (R-Tiger), Maria Strickland, State Rep. Kevin Tanner (R-Tiger), Ethan Underwood
Qualifying will continue through March 6 at noon. Continue to read fetchyournews.com for daily updates until qualifying ends.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Political candidates begin to qualify next week
News February 27, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Candidates for elected office will begin to officially file for their respective races Monday (March 2) as qualifying for dozens of Georgia positions opens ahead of the May 19 General Primary.
Candidates will have until noon on Friday (March 6) to file their paperwork, after which many races are expected to heat up in the final two-month sprint to Election Day.
Up-ballot races like U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress are on the table, as well as judges, clerks, coroners, sheriffs, county commissioners and other state and local-level positions.
Candidates must win 50 percent of the General Primary vote to win their seat. If they don’t, the top two candidates will head to a runoff, scheduled for July 21. Election Day is Nov. 23.
Candidates must bring valid identification. You may also bring a completed declaration of candidacy if you are running as a political party candidate or the notice of candidacy if you are qualifying for a non-partisan office. You will also need to bring the qualifying fee.
To register, report to the Dawson County Elections Office, Academy Street, Dawsonville.
Fetch Your News will update this story each day as candidates continue to qualify.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com