Spalding County elections office warns elderly/disabled must reapply for special-election absentee ballots; staff outlines June primary prep and budget needs

The Spalding County Board of Elections and Voter Registration heard on April 8 that Georgia law requires elderly and disabled voters to file a separate absentee-ballot application for each special election this year, and election staff outlined preparations for a likely June 17 special primary, possible July 15 runoff, staff training and budget needs ahead of the 2025 election calendar.

Kim, the elections supervisor, told the board the county has notified precincts and is scheduling poll officers for both election day and advanced voting for the June 17 special public service commission primary. She said training for poll workers is scheduled May 1–May 6 and that advanced-voting staffing will run Monday–Saturday in June, with a possible July 15 runoff if no candidate wins a majority.

The change affecting elderly and disabled voters stems from state law and a State Election Board rule, Kim said. “Due to the law, ... a separate application will be needed for each and every election,” she said, explaining that the usual single absentee application that rolls through a cycle does not apply to special primaries, special-primary runoffs, special elections or special-election runoffs. Kim told the board the office has issued a press release and has notified the Griffin Daily News, election officials and county administration and that staff will educate voters who come to the office.

Why it matters: requiring separate absentee applications increases administrative steps for voters who previously could rely on a single cycle application and could affect how the county communicates with older voters and voters with disabilities in the run-up to multiple special-election dates.

On finances, Kim said the office’s current operating balance is $42,182.33 and that she has submitted estimated additional costs for the June election to Assistant County Manager Erica Dye. The board discussed an office renovation for newly acquired space; Kim said county administration and the Board of Commissioners indicated a preference to complete renovations before the May gubernatorial primary next year to ease election operations.

Voter registration staff provided a counts update. Sandra Hardy said total registered voters in Spalding County stood at 54,414 as of 10:00 p.m. on April 8. Between March 11 and April 8 the office logged multiple registration channels: 1,406 Department of Driver Services transfers; 10 My Voter Page applications; three online registrations; 24 mail-in or walk-in applications; and other adjustments. Hardy also reported 74 confirmation notices mailed in December per the secretary of state’s file and said precinct cards are being produced on a roughly biweekly schedule once data files are approved by the secretary of state’s vendor.

Other actions and directions: the board approved adoption of the meeting agenda and the minutes of its Feb. 11, 2025 regular meeting. The board approved, on a motion moved by Dexter Wimbish and seconded by Chris Piland, rescheduling the May regular monthly meeting to accommodate Kim being out of town; the meeting time was to remain 6:00 p.m.

Board members and staff also reviewed upcoming training: Kim said staff plan to attend an additional training in Paulding County April 28–30, and the statewide GAVRIO conference (referred to in the meeting as “Gavrio”) is set for Aug. 10–13 in Savannah; Kim said she would circulate details for any board members who wish to attend.

The meeting record shows routine procedural items and planning steps rather than new policy decisions. No ordinance, contract award or formal budgeting action that would obligate funds beyond staff requesting estimated costs from county administration was taken during the session. The meeting adjourned after brief member remarks of appreciation for staff work on recent improvements to the office and election processes.