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, and Linda Walton, Clerk of Voter Registration.
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm.
ADVANCED EARLY VOTING
Advanced early voting allows voters the opportunity to vote early. In Decatur County, the advanced early voting locations are at the Fairgrounds, located at 1211 Vada Road, and the Elections Office, located at the Courthouse Annex located at 122 W. Water St.
ABSENTEE MAIL-IN VOTING
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. Click here for a copy of the request form, which must be mailed, faxed or emailed to the Elections Office. The video above explains some of the requirements for correctly requesting an absentee ballot and returning it.
REMEMBER, the Fairgrounds is used for advanced early voting as well as a polling location on Election Day. If you vote on Election Day, make sure you go to your precinct, which you can double check where it is on My Voter Page or contacting the Elections Office at (229) 243-2087.
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
From the left, front row, Vice Chairman Willie Lamb Jr. and Chairman Wendell Cofer; back row, Board Members Gina Burke, Beverly Holmes and Keith Sellars.
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, WENDELL COFER
Appointed by the Republican Party, appointment expires December 2020.
Vice-Chairman, WILLIE D. LAMB, JR.
Appointed by the Democratic Party, appointment expires December 2018.
GINA BURKE
Appointed by Decatur County Board of Commissioners, appointment expires December 2018.
KEITH SELLARS
Appointed by the Republican Party, appointment expires December 2018.
BEVERLY W. HOLMES
Appointed by the Democratic Party, appointment expires December 2020.
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 nine 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
MOUNT PLEASANT: Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department, 119 Deese Road, Bainbridge, GA 39817
RECOVERY: Recovery Volunteer Fire Department, 164 River Road, Bainbridge, GA 39819
WEST BAINBRIDGE: 1417 Dothan Road, 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.
ABSENTEE MAIL-IN VOTING
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. Click here for a copy of the request form, which must be mailed, faxed or emailed to the Elections Office.
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.
May 22, 2018 Primary Nonpartisan General Election
November 7, 2017, Special/Municipal General Election
March 21, 2017, ESPLOST Special Called Election Results
November 3, 2015, City of Bainbridge Election Results
November 5, 2013 Bainbridge Municipal Election Results
February 5, 2013, Special Election Runoff – State Senate 11