DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Monday (May 11) is the last day to register to vote in the June 9 General Primary/Presidential Preference Primary Election.

Advance voting begins May 18 and will continue Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. until June 5. All advanced voting will take place at the county elections office, 96 Academy Ave.

There is one Saturday voting day and that will be May 30 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Election Day is June 9 when polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

State and local officials are taking steps to protect the public health in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has sent absentee ballot request forms to 6.9 million Georgians to enable as many voters as possible to exercise their right to vote without leaving their homes. Poll workers will receive additional resources to clean the equipment regularly and in-person voters will be instructed to maintain a safe distance when waiting to vote.

Local officials are doing their best to protect the public also. Dawson County Board of Election and Registration Director Glenda Ferguson announced recently there is a new “OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOX” where voters can drop off an absentee ballot application and/or ballot without leaving the comfort of their vehicle. Look for the RED box, properly labeled and video monitored.

In addition to all the important federal, state and local elections on the ballot this year, Dawson County voters will be asked to decide on a proposed $45 million transportation special purpose local option sales tax (TSPLOST). If approved, it will increase the sales tax by 1 percent, making Dawson County’s total sales tax 8 percent.

Dawson County has three precincts where votes may be cast in person:

West – Dawson County Fire Station No 6, 2142 Hubbard Road.

Central — Dawson County Board of Elections & Registration Office, 96 Academy Avenue.

East — Dawson County EMS station #2, 145 Liberty Drive (On Highway 53, East of 400 N just past tractor supply) Please note: GPS will not send you to the correct address for, 145 Liberty Drive.

All Saturday and Advance Voting is at the Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office, ​​​​96 Academy Avenue, Dawsonville.

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