Election office gearing up for upcoming races

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  • Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Kay Townsend stands in front of the new election equipment that Georgia voters will use when they head to the polls for 2020 elections.
    Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Kay Townsend stands in front of the new election equipment that Georgia voters will use when they head to the polls for 2020 elections.
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CLAYTON— Georgia elections are going to look a little different in 2020 with the recent passage of the usage of new voting equipment.

The new voting system will provide voters with a paper ballot in addition to a ballot counted electronically.

Tammy Whitmire, elections supervisor, said that her office is in the process of organizing the equipment and learning the many software programs associated with it.

She said that in the near future, members of the community will get an opportunity to learn how to use the new equipment and practice voting in order to make election day run more smoothly.

The Elections office also released the qualifying fees for each county office up for election as well as Sky Valley’s city election.

 County offices up for grabs in the 2020 election:

Member Board of Commissioners- Post 1, currently held by Will Nichols, Post 2, currently held by Stephen Arbitter, and Post 3, currently held by Chairman Greg James. The salary is $5,400.The qualifying fee is $162.

Member Board of Education- Post 2, held by Wayne Stephens, Post 4, held by Steve Cabe and Post 5, held by Molly Lima. The salary is $600.The qualifying fee is $18.

Tax Commissioner-Currently held by Sandy Smith. The salary is $46,408. The qualifying fee is $1,392.

Clerk of Superior Court-Currently held by Holly Henry-Perry. The salary is $46,408. The qualifying fee is $1,392.

Sheriff-Currently held by Chad Nichols. The salary is $53,880. The qualifying fee is $1,616.

Judge of Probate Court-Currently held by Lillian Garrett. The salary is $46,408. The qualifying fee is $1,392.

Coroner-Currently held by Sam Beck. The salary is $3,601. The qualifying fee is $108.

Surveyor- Currently held by Jonathan Rolader. The salary is $600. The qualifying fee is $18.

 Qualifying begins March 2 at 9 a.m. and ends March 6 at noon.

A pauper’s affidavit may be filed in lieu of paying the qualifying fee.

All persons who are not registered to vote and who desire to register to vote in the General Primary Election may register to vote through the close of business on April 20, 2020.

 City of Sky Valley Election:

Two Council Member seats are up for grabs, currently held by Moody Barrick and Jim Curtis.

The qualifying fee for city of Sky Valley Council Member is $15.

Qualifying begins at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 17 and ends at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 21.

Should less than two candidates qualify for the office of Council Member, qualifying will reopen on Monday, August 24 at 8:30 a.m. and end Tuesday, August 25 at 5 p.m.