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Camden County elections board adopts early‑voting schedule for November PSC special election
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Summary
After staff presented turnout data showing low off‑peak participation, the Camden County Board of Elections and Registrations voted to approve early voting Oct. 14–Oct. 31 at the county annex in Kingsland with weekday hours of 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and two Saturdays, despite one member’s objection to later evening hours.
The Camden County Board of Elections and Registrations voted to adopt a staff‑recommended early‑voting schedule for a statewide Public Service Commission special election, approving Oct. 14–Oct. 31 at the Camden County Annex in Kingsland with weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and two Saturdays, Oct. 18 and Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The vote followed a staff presentation of turnout data and logistical constraints. Shannon Nettles, elections supervisor, told the board that state law sets a minimum of 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and that the office proposed 8:30–5:30 based on prior turnout patterns and available staffing. "The schedule that staff have proposed is 08:30 to 05:30, Monday through Friday, except for that holiday Monday," Nettles said.
Elections analyst Rock walked the board through detailed figures showing low participation during early‑voting hours in smaller precincts. "From 08:30 to 09:30 there was a total of 11 voters; five of those 11 were poll workers," Rock said, noting particular weakness in turnout from the county's north end and low absentee‑by‑mail requests (13 applications reported at the time of the meeting).
Board members debated shifting time from the morning to the evening so polls would close later. "I'd rather see almost 90 minutes," said Vernon Higgins, who asked the board to consider a 9 a.m.–6 p.m. schedule to match voter expectations and to help residents who work outside the county. Staff opposed longer daily hours for this election, citing historical data, poll‑worker availability and safety concerns as daylight wanes.
After discussion, a board member moved to adopt the hours as presented; another seconded the motion, which passed by majority. Higgins cast the sole recorded dissent.
The office reiterated outreach plans for absentee ballots and voter education: absentee‑by‑mail applications opened Aug. 18 and applications must be submitted by Oct. 24 for this contest. Nettles said the office posts notices on its website, runs public notices in the local paper and distributes a fact sheet the office prepared during the June cycle.
Nettles also reminded the board that logic‑and‑accuracy testing will begin when the ballot project arrives from the Secretary of State's office and that the county is preparing for a statewide equipment transition in 2026 related to removal of the QR code from ballots.
The board adopted the schedule and confirmed that advanced voting would be held at the Camden County Annex in Kingsland from Oct. 14–Oct. 31 under the approved hours.
