Spalding County outlines June 17 special primary plan, absentee rules and election costs

The Spalding County Board of Elections and Voter Registration on May 6 reviewed preparations for a June 17 special primary, warned that a July 15 runoff is likely, and outlined absentee-application requirements for elderly and disabled voters.

The board's election supervisor said the office expects a special primary on June 17 and that, because of the number of candidates on the Democratic ballot in Public Service Commission District 3, "we will, 99.9%, have a runoff in due on July 15." The supervisor also told the board the November general municipal and Public Service Commission elections remain scheduled for Nov. 4, with a possible special election in December (date not specified).

The meeting mattered for voters because the elections office stressed that elderly and disabled voters who normally use a single absentee application that rolls through a cycle must file separate absentee applications for special primaries, special primary runoffs, special elections and special election runoffs. Sandra Hardy, the voter registration official, cited state guidance in saying that ‘‘Any elderly…