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Dougherty County elections office outlines preparations for June special elections
Summary
At its May 2025 meeting, the Dougherty County Board of Elections heard an update from Elections Supervisor Johnson on training, absentee deadlines, logic-and-accuracy testing, a tentative post-election audit schedule and a new state requirement under House Bill 1207 that candidates verify ballot name information within 24 hours.
At its May 2025 meeting, the Dougherty County Board of Elections heard that the elections office is preparing for a June 17 special primary and related special elections, Elections Supervisor Johnson said.
The update summarized key calendar items voters and poll workers need to know: the last day to register was May 19; absentee applications accepted beginning March 31 through June 6; advanced voting will run May 27 through June 13; and logic-and-accuracy testing of equipment will begin the next day at 8:30 a.m. in the election office and then continue at other locations, Johnson said. She also said the office invited the public to observe testing.
The report flagged a new state requirement from House Bill 1207: "candidates have 24 hours to verify their name and other relevant information that are displayed on the printed ballot," Johnson said, describing material covered during recent training with the Georgia Secretary of State's office.
Johnson reviewed poll-worker and equipment training completed and scheduled: poll-worker training began May 1 for ballot-marking devices and scanners; provisioning-affidavit training occurred May 8, 12 and 13; and portable electronic device ("polo pad") training took place May 15, 19 and 20. The office planned two virtual overview sessions for all poll workers that evening and the following day at 6 p.m., she said.
She told the board all 25 precincts will be open for the public service commission (PSC) statewide race on the June ballot, and that five precincts — Sherwood, Shiloh, Albany High, Robert Harvey and Albany Middle — will include nonpartisan ballots for Ward 2 in addition to party ballots for the PSC contest. Johnson emphasized that on the June 17 primary voters will be asked which party ballot they want (Republican or Democratic) but may still vote the Ward 2 nonpartisan contest regardless of that party selection.
If a runoff is required, Johnson said the runoff is tentatively set for July 15 and that absentee voters must submit a new absentee application for the runoff; special-election absentee requests do not roll over automatically. She also said the office scheduled a tentative risk-limiting audit to begin Thursday, June 26, and continue through June 28 (dates listed as tentative).
On procedural matters, the board approved the meeting minutes as presented; the motion was moved and seconded and carried with all voting in favor, with no opposition recorded. The board also discussed moving the next regular certification and board meeting from the day after election day to Tuesday, June 24; board members indicated general agreement and said a majority would be required for official certification.
The update closed with reminders about the Memorial Day office closure and other routine scheduling items. Johnson concluded, "That's all I have, Vice Chairman," before the meeting moved to other business.
