EDITORIAL: Don’t get caught by surprise with election deadlines

Published 11:00 am Tuesday, July 12, 2022

The calendar may say July, but before we realize it, voting deadlines will be approaching. Now that the city of Milledgeville has set a date for its special election to fill the District 5 seat and with the November general election approaching, it’s time to assess your voter information. 

Just last week, the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office announced that voter information had been purged as part of routine voter list maintenance to help ensure more accurate voter rolls for the upcoming November election. This process is required by federal and state law. It may mean that if you have been an inactive voter in recent years or have had a change of address, your voting status has been affected. Everyone needs to know where they stand with regard to voter registration and voter status before Election Day. 

Check your voter status by visiting the My Voter Page at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ . Make sure the correct address is listed. If the wrong address is listed, you will need to update your registration to reflect your current address on the Georgia Online Voter Registration website. If you have moved or have recently completed a change of address notice with the U.S. Postal Service, you should receive a pre-paid addressed card to complete to update your voting information. 

Once logged in to the My Voter Page, you can see your voter information, your election precinct and polling place, a list of early voting locations for your county and the specific elected officials that represent you in federal, state and local government.

When it gets closer to election dates, you can also use the My Voter Page to access a sample ballot for your precinct as well as check to see your status for in-person early voting or absentee by mail voting.

A calendar with all important election dates can also be found on the secretary of state’s website, sos.ga.gov.

If you are not currently registered to vote, it’s time to get registered. Why wouldn’t you?

The registration deadline to qualify to vote in the November election is Oct. 11. 

Voting is both a right and a privilege. It is also our most basic, even civic, duty. 

Don’t let the date’s slip up on you.

Check your voting status and prepare for Election Day.