Early Voting Underway in Forsyth County

Early voting for the July 31 General Primary, the Non Partisan and Special Election is underway through Saturday, July 21 at the following location:

• Forsyth County Administration Building, located at 110 E. Main Street in downtown Cumming, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 21, will be open for voting on one Saturday for each election in 2012 in which there is a state or federal candidate on the ballot. Voters can cast their ballots at the following location:

• Forsyth County Administration Building, located at 110 E. Main Street in downtown Cumming, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Then from Monday, July 23 through Friday, July 27, advance voting begins and is open to all Forsyth County registered voters at five locations throughout the county with extended voting hours. 

Residents can cast their ballots at the following locations during these specific days and hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Hampton Park Library, 5345 Settingdown Road, Cumming

• , 1950 Sharon Road, Cumming

• Cumming City Hall, 100 Main Street, Cumming

• Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main Street, Cumming

• Midway Park Community Building, 5100 Post Road, Cumming

Forsyth County residents who would like to do absentee voting by mail must first submit a written request to the Board of Voter Registrations and Elections Office by mail, e-mail of a scanned copy, fax or personal delivery. Print an Application for Official Absentee Ballot and for information on where to submit your completed application. You can also download the PDF file to the right. The deadline to absentee vote by mail is Friday, July 27.

Remember that Georgia requires photo identification to vote. If you fail to bring a photo ID with you on Election Day, you will be allowed to vote on a provisional ballot, but you'll need to provide proper photo identification to the registrar within three days after Election Day for your ballot to count. Visit the Georgia Photo ID Web site for information.

Acceptable IDs must be one of these six categories:

1. Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by the county registrar's office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services           
2. A Georgia Driver's License, even if expired
3. Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state
4. Valid U.S. passport ID
5. Valid U.S. military photo ID
6. Valid tribal photo ID

In case you are wondering what you can't do in an election, here are some of the actions that would be a crime:

• An individual who votes more than once in an election is guilty of a felony.
• It is a crime to do any electioneering, or otherwise attempt to influence a voter; at the time he or she is voting an absentee ballot.
• It is a crime to intimidate or use or threaten to use violence to interfere with anyone’s lawful right to vote.
• It is a crime to pay or offer to pay a person any amount of money or to give a person anything of value in exchange for voting for a particular person or issue. Similarly, it is against the law to pay someone not to vote.
• It is a crime to violate the secrecy of the ballot, or otherwise tamper with ballots or the voting system.

For more information call 770-781-2118.

Editor's Note: There is NO VOTING of any kind the Monday prior to any election.

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