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
Tasia Porter, Clerk of Voter Registration
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm.
OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOX location is in front of the Elections Office, located at 122 West Water Street.
The drop box is open to receive absentee ballots 49 days before Election Day. On Election Day, the drop box shall be closed and ballots collected at 7 p.m.
Only the following individuals may possess or deliver an absentee ballot on behalf of a voter:
- The voter him or herself;
- Voter’s mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, spouse, son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in law;
- Individual residing in the same household as the voter; or
- Caretaker of a voter with disabilities.
O.C.G.A. § 21-2-385(a).
Unauthorized possession of an absentee ballot violated Georgia law and is punishable by a fine up to $10,000, a term of imprisonment up to 10 years, or both. O.C.G.A. § 21-2-574.
Willfully destroying, defacing or delaying the delivery of any ballot violates Georgia law and is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, a term of imprisonment up to 1 year, or both. O.C.G.A. § 21-2-576.
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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.
In Decatur County, the advanced early voting location is at the Elections Office located at the Courthouse Annex, 122 W. Water St.; and for the Nov. 3, 2020, General Election, the Fairgrounds polling location at 1211 Vada Road will also be open for advanced voting. Advanced voting begins on Oct. 12 and ends on Oct. 30. The hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with Saturday voting on Oct. 24 with hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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.
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/
Georgia voters will be able to request their ballot via the portal using their first and last name, date of birth, county where they are registered, and Georgia State ID or Georgia Driver’s License number. Voters will get a confirmation email that their request has been entered into the system. Also, voters can monitor their ballot status on My Voter Page. The ballots themselves will still be verified by matching the voter signature to their signature on file upon submission.
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 APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT 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 2020.
GINA BURKE
Appointed by Decatur County Board of Commissioners, appointment expires December 2022.
DAN PROVENCE
Appointed by the Republican Party, appointment expires December 2020.
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 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 39817
WEST BAINBRIDGE: 507 Martin 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.
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