Early voting for the Republican General Primary runoff begins next week as incumbent Sheriff Chad Nichols faces challenger Mark Gerrells June 18.
Advanced voters can cast their ballots in person Monday, June 10, through Friday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rabun County Elections Office, 184 South Main Street, Suite 102, Clayton. There will not be an opportunity for Saturday voting.
Runoff Election Day is Tuesday, June 18, and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the elections office.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail for the runoff is Friday, June 7.
“We’re encouraging people to bring ballots in person,” said Lynne Ramey, absentee-by-mail clerk.
Ramey said the runoff election has been a quick turnaround.
Absentee-by-mail ballots are due by the closing of polls on June 18.
Rabun County Deputy Registrar Derik Pendrey said those eligible to cast ballots in the June 18 runoff are those who voted in the May 21 Republican Primary, plus those who are registered voters but did not vote last month.
As additional clarification, Pendrey said those who voted in the Democratic or Nonpartisan general primaries cannot vote in the Republican June 18 runoff.
In the May 21 Republican general primary election, Gerrells received 1,948 votes, Nichols received 1,639 votes and Marty Talley received 745 votes.
Because no candidate received the required 50 percent plus one vote to win outright, a runoff is scheduled for the top two vote-getters.
With the May 31 arrest of Nichols on charges by the GBI, elections officials confirmed that as of noon Tuesday Nichols remains a candidate.
“Everything is progressing as normal,” Pendrey said about the election.
The Rabun County Board of Elections is slated to conduct Logic and Accuracy testing on Thursday, June 6, in preparation for the runoff election.
Visit https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ or https://rabuncounty.ga.gov/elections for more information, or call the Rabun County Elections Office at 706-782-1878.
“On June 6, the Rabun County Director of Elections will begin conducting the public Logic and Accuracy test involving the (ICX) BMD and printers’ units, polling place Scanner and E Poll Pads and all voting system components to be used in the Absentee precinct (Georgia DRE rule 183-1-12-08) for the General Primary Runoff Election to be held on June 18,” according to the legal advertisement published in The Clayton Tribune. “Also, on June 6, (Georgia DRE rule 183-1-12-02; 183-1-12-08) the Director of Elections will be beginning and conducting the public Logic and Accuracy test involving the (ICX) BMD and printers’ units, polling place Scanner, ICC Workstation and Central Scanner, E Poll Pads and all voting system components to be used on Election Day, for the General Primary Runoff Election to be held on June 18. On these days, preparation and testing will commence at 9 a.m. at Rabun County Board of Elections, 184 S. Main Street, Suite 102, Clayton, and shall continue until such preparation and testing is complete. This preparation and testing are open to the public for observation. For more information, call 706-782-1878.”