April 3, 2020–6:30 a.m.
STAFF REPORTS
Last week, the Georgia Secretary of State’s office announced it would be mailing absentee ballot request forms to every Georgia voter for the May 19 Primary Elections.
The effort is being made so Georgians can vote without fear for their health and will supplement extra measures to ensure those who rely on in-person voting to access the ballot can do so safely.
Now House Speaker David Ralston and all 11 Republican members of the state’s congressional delegation are pushing to delay all of the primaries until mid-June.
Juliann Thompson with the Secretary of State’s Office on Thursday’s First News with Tony McIntosh said it’s not that easy.
“The secretary of state cannot unilaterally change the date of the election at this point,” she said. “However, if the Georgia General Assembly of the governor wants to move the election, the secretary of state is happy to work with them and make sure that gets done. Ultimately, he executes elections, he doesn’t create them, and he wants to make sure that this election is safe, secure and follows the law.”
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger posted the following on his official Facebook page Wednesday:
“We continue to monitor the situation with county elections officials. If and when the Governor extends the state of emergency, that’s when we can reevaluate the situation and move the election.”