Elections Office
Our Mission Statement
The Decatur County Board of Elections and Voter Registration’s mission is to adhere to the U.S. and Georgia constitutions, laws, rules and best practices to ensure every eligible U.S. citizen has the right to vote. There will be fair, open and equal access to the election process through registration and through voting, and we fairly and accurately count every vote. We are stewards of tax dollars, property and time. And, we are champions of democracy.
Office Information
Physical Address:
122 W. Water Street (Courthouse Annex)
Bainbridge, GA 39817
Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 7428
Bainbridge, GA 39818
Email: elections@decaturcountyga.gov
Phone Number: (229) 243-2087
Fax Number: (229) 248-3743
Staff: Carol P. Heard, Chief Elections Official
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm.
https://www.facebook.com/decaturcountyelections/
NEWS RELEASE AND PUBLIC NOTICES
Public Notice for Coliseum Split and creating Kirbo Center precinct
Public Notice for West Bainbridge change to VFW building
L&A Testing Public Notice, Climax Municipal Elections
NEWS RELEASE – Voters slated to cancelled – June 2021
News Release on March 16 Special Election, Feb. 23, 2021
Notice of Early Scanning for Jan. 5, 2021 Federal and State Runoff Elections
DAILY-REPORTING-FOR-ADVANCED-VOTING-FORM-FINAL-2021
ADVANCED EARLY VOTING
Advanced early voting allows voters the opportunity to vote early. In Decatur County, the advanced early voting location is at the Elections Office located at the Courthouse Annex, 122 W. Water Street.
The City of Climax will hold an election for the at-large council seat presently held by incumbent John T. Walker. Larry Lowe qualified to run against Walker in the Nov. 2 municipal elections.
Climax Mayor Joseph Melvin Kelly was the only candidate to qualify for mayor, and Councilwoman Betty Clark was the only candidate to qualify for her at-large.
Voters may now request an application for an absentee ballot. To make a request, voters must have an acceptable form of identification with a number that must be written on the request for an absentee ballot, as well as when returning that absentee mail-in ballot. The acceptable forms of identification with a number are a Georgia Driver’s License or a state-issued identification card issued by the Georgia Department of Driver Services. This is a change from previous elections as a result of Senate Bill 202. If you have questions concerning a mail-in ballot or the necessary requirements for your ballot, please contact the Elections Office at 243-2087.
Oct. 12, a Tuesday because that Monday is a state holiday, is the earliest day the Elections Office may issue mail-in ballots. The last day you may submit an application for an absentee ballot is Friday, Oct. 22.
Tuesday, Oct. 12, is also the first day for advanced voting, which will be held at the Elections Office located at 122 W. Water St. in downtown Bainbridge. Advanced voting will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are two mandatory Saturday advanced voting days, Oct. 16 and Oct. 23. The hours for Saturday voting are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct. 4 is the deadline to register to vote for this election or to make a change of address.
Mail-in absentee ballots may be deposited into the drop-off box located inside the Elections Office during advanced voting days and hours. The last day you may deposit your mail-in ballot into the drop box and for it to count is Friday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m.
You cannot drop off your mail-in ballot at the precinct. But you may bring your ballot to the Elections Office while the office is open up until 7 p.m. on Election Day. You may mail your absence ballot as long as the Elections Office receives it in the mail by Election Day.
Polls will be open for the Climax precinct only on Nov. 2 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Only residents of the City of Climax may vote in this election. Even if your precinct is Climax, but you are outside the Climax’s city limits, you are not eligible to vote in this election.
Making an application for by mail absentee ballot:
Absentee mail-in voting is another way voters may vote. With absentee mail-in voting, you do not have to have a reason for requesting an absentee mail-in ballot. However, you do have to request a mail-in ballot.
Any person applying for an absentee-by-mail ballot shall make application in writing on the form made available by the Georgia Secretary of State. In order to confirm the identity of the voter, such form shall require the elector to provide his or her name, date of birth, address as registered, address where the elector wishes the ballot to be mailed, and the number of his or her Georgia driver’s license or identification card issued by the state. If such elector does not have a Georgia driver’s license or identification card issued pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 5 of Title 40, the elector shall affirm this fact in the manner prescribed in the application and the elector shall provide a copy of a form of identification listed in subsection (c) of Code Section 21-2-417.
The application shall also include the identity of the primary, election, or runoff in which the elector wishes to vote; and the name and relationship of the person requesting the ballot if other than the elector; and an oath for the elector or relative to write his or her usual signature with a pen and ink affirming that the elector is a qualified Georgia elector and the facts presented on the application are true. Submitting false information on an application for an absentee ballot shall be a violation of Code Section 21-2-560 and 21-2-571.
No absentee ballot shall be mailed to an address other than the permanent mailing address provided on the elector’s registration record or a temporary out of county or out of municipality address, except in the case of:
A physically disabled elector; or
Electors in custody in a jail or other detention facility in the county or municipality.
An application for an absentee ballot must be submitted to the Elections Office 11 days prior to the day of the election in order for the ballot to be processed.
The most efficient and convenient way to request an absentee ballot is to visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s internet portal: https://securevotega.com/secureabsentee/
You may also track your absentee ballot by logging into https://georgia.ballottrax.net/voter/
You may still request a paper form if you don’t have access to the internet or you don’t have a Georgia Driver’s License or State ID. Click on Absentee Ballot Application (2021) for a copy of the request form, which must be mailed, faxed or emailed to the Elections Office.
Am I registered to vote?
- My Voter Page allows you to view your voting status. If you have problems finding your information, please call our office at (229) 243-2087.
How can I register to vote?
- Call our office (229) 243-2087 and ask for an application to be mailed to you,
- Visit our office located in the Decatur County Courthouse Annex (122 W. Water Street) and complete an application in person,
- Complete an application at one of our state mandated voter registration sites, such as the local library, Bainbridge State College or Bainbridge High School.
- Register to vote while updating your Driver’s License at the Department of Driver Services location at 101 Airport Road in Bainbridge.
- Go to the Georgia Secretary of State’s online voter registration site:
The Board of Elections and Registration
Decatur County Board of Elections members are, from the left, Chairman Keith Sellars, Vice Chairman Beverly Holmes, Members Dan Provence and Johnny Brown. Board Member Gina Burke is not pictured.
The Decatur County Board of Elections and Registration was created by local legislation on May 17, 2004. It is empowered with all the powers and duties relating to the conduct of primaries and elections as election superintendents, and it is empowered with all the powers and duties relating to the registration of voters and absentee balloting procedures. Two members of the board are appointed by the chairperson of the county executive committee of the Republican Party; two members are appointed by the chairperson of the county executive committee of the Democratic Party; and, the fifth member is appointed by the Decatur County Board of Commissioners.
The Board meets the second Tuesday of every month beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Board of Elections and Registration Office’s conference room located at the Courthouse Annex, 122 W. Water St.CHAIRMAN, KEITH SELLARS
Appointed by the Republican Party, appointment expires December 2022.
VICE CHAIRMAN, BEVERLY W. HOLMES
Appointed by the Democratic Party, appointment expires December 2024.
GINA BURKE
Appointed by Decatur County Board of Commissioners, appointment expires December 2022.
DAN PROVENCE
Appointed by the Republican Party, appointment expires December 2024.
JOHNNY BROWN
Appointed by the Democratic Party, appointment expires December 2022.
Click here for the minutes of the Decatur County Board of Elections and Registration. For the agenda of a forthcoming Board of Elections and Registration meeting or other news, please check go to the County News page of our website.
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Core Values
1. All eligible voters have the right to vote.
2. All persons are treated fairly and equally.
3. Every vote is accurately, fairly and impartially counted.
4. We ensure a secret ballot for all those voting and respect privacy for all citizens.
5. We strive to increase voter registrations, voter turnout and education of our election process.
6. We are impartial and non-partisan.
7. We serve others and not ourselves.
8. We are stewards of the public’s money and resources.
9. We own our mistakes. We admit to them, learn from them and don’t attempt to hide from them.
10. We all work as a team that respects the hierarchy of our organization, and everyone operates in the open and with transparency.
11. We test and maintain our voting, registration and all other equipment to ensure accurate and correct operations for seamless and pleasant voting and registration experiences. We strive to improve upon those operations and to enhance our knowledge and education to better serve the public.
12. We respectfully remember our American journey, which hasn’t been the same for everyone; and we must remember our history and the journey of our democracy.
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DISTRICT BOUNDRY MAPS
Decatur County Commission map-2012
WHERE DO I GO TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY?
There are 10 polling locations in Decatur County. On Election Day, the polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ATTAPULGUS: Attapulgus Community Center, 405 E. Griffin Avenue, Attapulgus, GA 39815
BRINSON: Brinson Municipal Building, 179 Clifton St., Brinson, GA 39825
CLIMAX: Climax Volunteer Fire Department, 402 W. Lee St., Climax, GA 39834
COLISEUM: Decatur County Memorial Coliseum, 600 Wheat Ave., Bainbridge, GA 39819
FAIRGROUNDS: Fairgrounds, Chamber 1, 1211 Vada Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817
KENDRICK: Kendrick Volunteer Fire Department, 2931 Spring Creek Road, Brinson, GA 39825
KIRBO CENTER: Charles H. Kirbo Center, Southern Regional Technical College, 2500 Shotwell St., Bainbridge, GA 39819
MOUNT PLEASANT: Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department, 119 Deese Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817
RECOVERY: Recovery Volunteer Fire Department, 164 River Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817
WEST BAINBRIDGE: 1600 Pierce Street, Bainbridge, GA 39817.
PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED TO VOTE
What can be used as photo ID on Election Day and during Advanced Early Voting?
- A Georgia driver’s license (expired/unexpired)
- Any valid state or federal issued photo ID (includes Georgia Voter ID Card)
- Valid U.S. Passport
- Valid employee photo ID (must be issued by any municipality, county, state or federal branch, department or agency)
- Valid U.S. military photo ID
- Valid tribal photo ID
How can I receive a Georgia Voter ID Card and how much does the ID cost?
- You can obtain a Georgia Voter ID Card by visiting our office (located in the Decatur County Courthouse Annex – 122 W. Water Street) Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the Georgia Voter ID Card is FREE. Voter ID Cards are only made during election dates and can only be used for voting purposes.
- You can also obtain a Georgia ID Card from the Department of Driver Services office located at 101 Airport Road in Bainbridge.
What do I need to bring in order to receive a FREE Georgia Voter Photo ID?
- Bring either a (photo or approved non-photo) document containing the voter’s full legal name and date of birth,
- Documentation displaying the voter’s date of birth,
- Proof that the person is a registered elector in the county, and
- Documentation showing the voter’s name and current address.
How to Register:
ELECTION CALENDARS
ELECTION RESULTS
The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office has ELECTION RESULTS. You can view statewide and by county results. The state does not have municipal election results.
ELECTION SUMMARY – Final and Complete for Nov. 5, 2021 City of Climax Municipal General Election
ELECTION SUMMARY – Final and Complete Election Summary, March 16, 2021
Audit notice for Nov. 3, 2020 General Election
OFFICIAL AND COMPLETE ELECTION SUMMARY,Nov. 3, 2020
Statement of votes cast for presidential contest
ELECTION SUMMARY, Final and Complete, 5-column Report, June 9, 2020
STATEMENT OF VOTES CAST, Final and Complete, June 9, 2020 General Primary
June 9, 2020, General Primary and PPP
Election Summary Report November 5, 2019
November 6, 2018 ELECTION SUMMARY – General Election
July 24 2018 RUNOFF ELECTION — Official and Complete Results
May 22, 2018 Primary Nonpartisan General Election
November 7, 2017, Special/Municipal General Election
March 21, 2017, ESPLOST Special Called Election Results
November 8, 2016 General Election
November 3, 2015, City of Bainbridge Election Results
November 5, 2013 Bainbridge Municipal Election Results
February 5, 2013, Special Election Runoff – State Senate 11