Consider buying an advertisement for your business or sending a donation to Pike County Times to support the only free online newspaper in Pike County. Donations can be sent to: The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Thanks for supporting Pike County's only free online newspaper!
Early Voting Begins May 2; Saturday Votes May 7 and 14
By Editor Becky Watts
ZEBULON - The first day of early voting is on Monday, May 2, 2022. Pike County Times interviewed Pike County Elections Supervisor David Neyhart on Thursday to find out what to expect in the upcoming election.
First of all, there have been some changes made to the district voting maps based on the 2020 Census. Neyhart advised that since redistricting was late, our redistricting wasn’t ready until just before qualifying. That means that there was a wait to get precinct cards.
Because the number on Rep. Beth Camp’s district was changed from District 131 to 135, all of the precinct cards for the entire county are being printed and sent out. Those should arrive in the mail over the next week or so depending on mail delivery.
Changes were also made in the Board of Education and Board of Commissioners voting maps. Each of the districts in the Board of Education now has a city.
Links to maps and election information is included below so voters can know this information as soon as possible.
Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST)
There is also a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) vote that, if passed, would basically be a continuation of a 1% sales tax that has been used to pave roads, streets, and bridges since it was imposed in 2016.
The past SPLOST ran from 2016 through 2022 with funds making improvements to county roads as well as in each of the cities in the county. Click here to see an update of SPLOST expenditures through April 12, 2022. The current SPLOST ends this year.
A new SPLOST, if enacted, would begin on October 2, 2022 for the purpose of raising up to $20,000,000 for the purpose of water, sewer, and storm water drainage as well as road, street, and bridge improvements in the cities and throughout the county.
The question about the SPLOST is at the very end of both ballots.
Board of Education
There is only one contested race for the Board of Education.
In the Board of Education District 1 seat, Brian Hubbard and Michael Brandon Pierce will run a contested race.
In the Board of Education District 2 seat, Allen Edwards will retain his seat.
In the Board of Education District 6 seat, Floyd Miller will retain his seat.
Not sure of whose district you are in? Go to your My Voter Page and log in to check your information.
Here is a link to the new Board of Education map: www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/2022BOEdistricts.pdf
Know what district you’re in but need to know who the current representative is? www.pike.k12.ga.us/board-of-education
Board of Commissioners
There are two seats, and neither is contested in this election.
In the County Commission District 1 seat, Tim Daniel will retain his seat.
In the County Commission District 2 seat, Tim Guy will retain his seat.
Not sure of whose district you are in? Go to your My Voter Page and log in to check your information.
Here is a link to the new Board of Commissioners map: www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/2022PikeCountyCommissionFinalMap.pdf
Know what district you’re in but need to know who the current representative is? www.pikecoga.com/board-of-commissioners.html
City of Concord
Paul Leslie is running for office without any opposition. To find out more about Concord City Government, click here.
State Representative, District 135
There are two candidates in the State Representative District 135 race. The candidate who receives the most votes in the May 24 Republican Primary will be the winner of this race.
Incumbent Beth Camp from Concord is being challenged by Dan Brue from Thomaston. Information from the Secretary of State’s office is listed below in alphabetical order and taken verbatim from the website.
Each candidate was asked to make a statement for who they are and why they are running in 500 words or less. http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/district135representative.html
DAN BRUE
E-mail: dan@brue2022.com
PARTY: REPUBLICAN
INCUMBENT: NO
OCCUPATION: ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
QUALIFIED DATE: 03/09/2022
WEBSITE: brue2022.com
BETH CAMP
E-mail: elizabeth.a.camp@gmail.com
PARTY: REPUBLICAN
INCUMBENT: YES
OCCUPATION: REALTOR
QUALIFIED DATE: 03/07/2022
WEBSITE: campforgeorgia.com
State Senator, District 16
There are two candidates in the State Senator District 16 race. The candidate who receives the most votes in the November 8 General Election will be the winner of this race.
Incumbent Marty Harbin from Tyrone is being challenged by Pingke Dubignon from Griffin. Information from the Secretary of State’s office is listed below in alphabetical order and taken verbatim from the website.
MARTY HARBIN
E-mail: votemartyharbin@gmail.com
PARTY: REPUBLICAN
INCUMBENT: YES
OCCUPATION: BUSINESS OWNER
QUALIFIED DATE: 03/08/2022
WEBSITE: www.senatormartyharbin.com
PINGKE DUBIGNON
E-mail: pingke@pingkeforga.com
PARTY: DEMOCRATIC
INCUMBENT: NO
OCCUPATION: CHEF
QUALIFIED DATE: 03/07/2022
WEBSITE: www.pingkeforga.com
Other Races on the Ballot
There are a number of races that are contested in the General Primary in May as well as the General Election in November from the governor to the Public Service Commission and Commissioner of Agriculture.
Non-partisan races are on both ballots for local, district, and state courts.
And there is a U.S. Senate race on the ballot.
Click here to find details on candidates in order to get educated before casting your vote in the upcoming elections.
Questions on the Republican and Democratic Ballots
There are 8 questions on the Republican Ballot which range from whether education dollars following the student to the school of their choice to whether biological males should be allowed to compete in female sports to a question of whether absentee ballot boxes should be eliminated altogether. Click here to see a sample copy of the Republican ballot.
There are 9 questions on the Democratic Ballot which range from whether the United States should forgive all student loan debt to expanding Medicaid to allowing same day voter registration and 24/7 absentee drop boxes to legalization and taxation of marijuana in the same manner as alcohol with the proceeds going toward education, infrastructure, and health care programs. Click here to see a sample copy of the Democratic ballot.
Voting Precinct Change
Due to the renovation, etc. of the school auditorium on Hwy 19 (across from Christ Chapel), the voting precinct has been moved to the Pre-K building (7454 US-19 Zebulon) between the auditorium and Ruth’s Restaurant. Look for the sign to direct voters on where to go.
There are 8 Voting Precincts in Pike County: Concord, Hollonville, Meansville, Molena, Second District, Lifsey Springs, Williamson, and Zebulon. Here is list of the voting districts and locations:
• Early Absentee Voting 81 Jackson Street, Zebulon 30295
• Zebulon 7454 US Hwy 19, Zebulon 30295
• Williamson 65 Patton Street, Williamson 30292
• Concord 23 Society Street, Concord 30206
• Molena 10 Spring Street, Molena 30258
• Meansville 41 Means Street, Meansville 30256
• Hollonville 4056 Concord Road, Williamson 30292
• Lifsey Springs 8033 Ga Hwy 109, Molena 30258
• Second District 1585 Gresham Road, Zebulon 30295
Absentee Ballots
The Registar's Office is located at 81 Jackson St. Zebulon 30295 (next to the Sheriff’s Office). The absentee ballot drop box is located INSIDE OF the Registrar’s Office and is emptied daily.
PLEASE NOTE: State law has changed with regard to absentee ballots. Please call the Registrar’s Office at 770-567-2003 to request your absentee ballot. [Note from the Editor: You can also request an absentee ballot through the Secretary of State’s Office, but it will be quicker if you just call the Pike County Registrar’s Office in Zebulon at the number above.]
Closing
The General Primary will be held on May 24, 2022. A runoff will be required for any races that do not end with one candidate receiving 50% of the vote. The Primary Runoff, if needed, is scheduled for June 21, 2022.
The General Election will be held on November 8, 2022. A runoff will be required for any races that do not end with one candidate receiving 50% of the vote. The General Runoff, if needed, is scheduled for December 6, 2022.
Early voting for the General Primary begins on May 2, 2022 and will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until the Friday prior to the election--May 20. There will be NO early voting on Monday, May 23, 2022, which is the day before the election.
There will be two Saturday voting dates before the General Primary: May 7 and May 14. Voters can cast their ballots between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Election Day is Tuesday, May 24 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.