The Athens-Clarke County Elections Department announced on June 4 that absentee ballots have begun mailing for the upcoming June 16 General Primary Election and Nonpartisan Runoff. Applications for absentee ballots are available online or at the Elections Office, with the deadline to request a ballot set for Friday, June 5.
Voter registration closed on April 20 for most races in this election cycle. Individuals who registered in Georgia after April 20 will be eligible to vote only in federal contests, specifically the Republican runoff for U.S. Senator. All registered voters, including those who did not participate in the May primary, are eligible to vote in the June 16 runoff.
Composite sample ballots displaying all offices available countywide can be found on the Athens-Clarke County Elections Department website or at their office. Voters may access a voter-specific sample ballot and check their status through Georgia’s My Voter Page by entering personal information.
Democratic voters will select candidates in statewide runoffs including Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Labor, as well as local nonpartisan runoffs such as Mayor and certain Commission districts. Republican voters will cast ballots in statewide runoffs for Senate and several other offices; applicable district residents will also vote in state senate and commission races. Nonpartisan ballots include local mayoral and commission runoffs where applicable.
Advance voting is scheduled from Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12 at three locations: ACC Elections Office (155 E. Washington Street), ACC Library (2025 Baxter Street), and ACC Tennis Center (4460 Lexington Road). Hours vary by day but generally run from 8:00 AM to either 5:00 PM or 7:00 PM; there is no Saturday voting nor advance voting on Mondays before elections.
On Election Day—Tuesday, June 16—all polling locations are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Voting must occur at assigned precincts rather than at the downtown Elections Department office. Three precinct changes have been made this cycle: Precinct 3B now votes at Bobby Snipes Water Resource Center; Precinct 7A at Athens-Clarke County Library; Precinct 8A at Hilsman Middle School instead of previous locations.
The City of Athens operates as a consolidated city-county government providing unified public services across Athens and Clarke County—including management of parks, facilities like Morton Theatre, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places—and supports historic preservation efforts throughout its jurisdiction, according to the official website.
