Letter from the Director Voter Registration Forum Chatham County Voter Registration Fall Quarter 2011 Volume 4 Issue 3 The 2011 election season is upon us now. The candidates have qualified and the Voter Registration Staff is gearing up for the election. The General Municipal/Special Election will be held on November 8, 2011. This is a county-wide election. The deadline to register to vote or to change your address is October 11, 2011. Please insure that you check your voter status prior to this date by either calling or visiting the Voter Registration Office at 1117 Eisenhower Drive, Suite E, phone 912-790-1520. You may also check your voting information and view a sample ballot at sos.ga.gov/mvp. Don t wait until Election Day to find out your polling location and current voter registration status. Absentee voting will begin on October 18, 2011 at the Voter Registration Office, 1117 Eisenhower Drive. The hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. When voting in person identification is required. A written request is required for an absentee ballot. Last day for an absentee ballot is November 4, 2011. There will be three county wide referendum questions on the ballot. They are the third term for Chairman of the County Commission, E-SPLOST and Sunday alcohol sales. The Chatham County Board of Registrars asks that all county electors please take the necessary action to view a sample ballot for the November election. An inform voter would expedite the voting lines. We are still focusing on getting voters to update their voting information. Redistricting will be done in 2012. New voting precinct cards will be mailed to registered voters in Chatham County. The card will have all the updated information on your congressional, senate, house of representative, county commission, school board and municipal (if necessary) districts. INSIDE THIS ISSUE. Letter from the Director November 8, 2011 Municipal/ Special Election referendum questions and candidates Important Dates to Remember Advance Absentee In-Person Voting Voter Photo Identification for In-Person Voting Deputy Registrar Training Linda Beazley MVP Employee Spotlight 1
Chatham County is Having a Municipal/Special Election on November 8, 2011. What does this mean for Chatham County voters? Voters that reside in the city limits of Garden City, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Savannah, Tybee Island, and Vernonburg and are registered to vote are eligible to vote for mayor, city council members and/or the referendum questions. Voters that reside in the Un-Incorporated areas of Chatham County, Bloomingdale, and Thunderbolt, and are registered to vote are ONLY eligible to vote on the referendum questions. County Wide Referendum Questions: 1. Remove Term Limits on Office of County Chairperson 2. Sunday Alcohol Package 3. Education Special Purpose Local Option Tax (ESPLOST) City of Bloomingdale Referendum Questions: 1. Alcohol by the Drink License 2. Sunday Alcohol by the Drink 3. Sunday Alcohol Package City of Thunderbolt City of Garden City Candidates running for the November 8, 2011 Election: Tennyson Holder Gary Monroe City Council: At Large Scott George District 001 Judy Shuman District 002 Don Bethune District 003 Bruce Campbell Gwyn Hall District 004 Rosetta Bryant Cody District 005 Jean Jacques Bellemare Bessie Kicklighter City of Pooler Candidates running for the November 8, 2011 Election: Travis B. Cowart, Jr. Michael F. Lamb City Council: Bruce Allen Rebecca C. Benton Shannon Black Ashley Brown David M. Burke Laura Chan Jonathan P. Curry Jeff Rayno Michael D. Royal Stevie E. Wall 2
City of Tybee Island Candidates Running for the November 8, 2011 Election: Jason Buelterman Shirley Sessions James (Dick) Smith Council: Marianne Bramble Barry Brown Donald (Tybee Dac) Cowart Wanda Doyle William (Bill) Garbett Thomas Groover David McNaughton Jerry Onyskiw Montgomery (Monty) Parks Clifford (Frank) Schuman, Sr. Paul Wolff Town of Vernonburg Candidates running for the November 8, 2011 Election: Intendant: James R. Hungerpiller Town Council: Gustavous Holmes Bell, IV Frank A. Chisholm, Jr. Edward J. Derst, III Richard R. Schulze, Jr. City of Savannah Candidates running for the November 8, 2011 Election: Edna B. Jackson Regina D. Thomas Ellis Peniston Cook Jeff Felser Floyd Adams, Jr. James Dewberry Alderman At-Large Post 1: Suresh Persad Carolyn H. Bell Russ Sill District 1: Van R. Johnson Ruel Joyner Tonia Miller District 3: Larry M. Stuber John Hall District 5: Greg Hagins Warren Hickman Estella Edwards Shabazz At Large: Alderman At-Large Post 2: Bill Gillespie Tom Bordeaux Clinton Young District 2: Mary Osborne Gretchen Ernest District 4: Pamela Anne Miller Mary Ellen Sprague District 6: Tony Thomas City of Port Wentworth Candidates Running for the November 8, 2011 Election: James E. Curry Tim Holbrook District 2: Gary W. Norton Ernie Stanhope District 4: Silas W. (Bill) Herrin Joseph S. Kiser 3
October 11, 2011 IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER October 18, 2011 - November 4, 2011 October 29, 2011 October 31, 2011 - November 4, 2011 November 4, 2011 November 8, 2011 November 28, 2011 - December 2, 2011 December 6, 2011 Registration Deadline For new registration, address changes, and name changes Advance Voting for General/Special Election Saturday Voting Located at the Voter Registration Office from 9:00 am 2:00 pm Additional Advance Voting Locations will be open Last Day for Advance Voting and the Mailing of Absentee Ballots General Election/Special Election Advance Voting for General/Special Runoff (if Required) General Election/Special Runoff (if Required) ADVANCE ABSENTEE IN-PERSON VOTING Voting in-person for 2011 General/Special Election: The Chatham County advance voting period will start on October 18, 2011 and go through November 4, 2011. Any eligible registered voter desiring to vote during this period may do so in-person at the Voter Registration Main Office, 1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite E, Savannah, GA 31406, Monday Friday, 8:00 am 5:00 pm. No reason is required for absentee in-person advance voting. Additional 2011 Voting Sites for General/Special Election: In-person absentee advance voting will be available at the locations and times shown below: Locations Address Hours Voter Reg Main Office 1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite E 8:00 am 5:00 pm (M, W, F) Voter Reg Main Office 1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite E 8:00 am 7:00 pm (T, Th) Civic Center 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave 9:00 am 4:00 pm (M F) Mosquito Control 65 Billy B. Hair Dr. 9:00 am 4:00 pm (M F) Voters who cast their votes in person must show one of six forms of photo identification. Bring One to Vote 1. A Georgia Driver s License, even if expired 2. A valid United States military photo ID card 3. A valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a FREE Voter Identification Card issued by your county registrars office or the GA Dept. of Driver Services (DDS) 4. A valid employee photo ID card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of Georgia 5. A valid United States passport 6. A valid tribal photo ID card 4
DEPUTY REGISTRAR TRAINING Deputy Registrar Training is recommended for those who are holding voter drives and who will generally assist others with their voter registration application. The training will cover how to correctly complete voter registration and absentee ballot applications. Training sessions are held on the 1 st and 3 rd Friday of the month at 10:00 am at the Voter Registration Office, 1117 Eisenhower Dr., Suite E, Savannah, GA 31406. Picture from Augusta Chronicle Website Linda Beazley an Extraordinary Public Servant, Passes Linda Beazley passed away September 12, 2011 at the age of 71. Beazley had an amazing career in public service. She was the Executive Director of the Board of Elections in Richmond County for 20 years. She also served as the County Administrator for several more years. In 1997, she became the Director of the State Board of Elections and retired in 2004. More recently, she was the Chairperson on the Board of Elections Committee in Richmond County. She was loved and admired by her family, friends, and co-workers. Everyone adored her and she will truly be missed. MVP MY VOTER PAGE Go to www.sos.ga.gov/mvp to Log In Use MVP to Check Your: Voter Registration Status Mail-in application and ballot status Poll Location Early voting location Elected Officials Registration information on file with the county office Sample ballot for the upcoming election EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Randolph Randy Slay has worked for Chatham County for 20 years. He began his career with the Public Works Dept., then transferred to the Voter Registration Dept. He is the Assistant Director. His role as the Assistant Director includes but is not limited to interpreting, explaining and applying administrative and election laws, resolving problems and making decisions, reading and interpreting street maps and indexes, and assisting in budget development. Randy retired from the United States Army after faithfully serving 20 years. He is currently pursing his Master s Degree in Management and Leadership at Webster University where he is on the Dean s List. In his spare time, Randy enjoys fishing, lecturing, and sports. He is also a huge Alabama fan!!! 5
Election Information Websites Chatham County http://voter.chathamcounty.org Secretary of State www.sos.state.ga.gov Federal Voting Assistance www.fvap.gov CONTACT INFORMATION Chatham County Voter Registration 1117 Eisenhower Dr. Suite E Savannah, GA 31406 Office 912-790-1520 Fax 912-790-1519 Email voter@chathamcounty.org Sandra M. Williams Director Randolph Slay Assistant Director FACEBOOK Become our friend on Facebook or Like us on Facebook Chatham County Voter Registration Subscriber Info: Interested in voter registration news? Receive the Voter Registration Forum News Letter by submitting your email address to: voter@chathamcounty.org SPECIAL THANKS TO: Organizations holding voter drives If you would like to unsubscribe to this news letter, please click on the above email address and put unsubscribe in the subject line. 6