By Kirsten J. Barnes
If you haven’t registered to vote, it is too late to participate in the March 12, presidential primary election, according to Nancy Boren, executive director of the Columbus Elections & Registration Office.
However, there is still time to register for several other elections this year, including the May 21 general primary runoff election, and Nov. 5, 2024, presidential general election.
You can register for the runoff election until April 22, 2024, and the general election until Oct. 7, 2024.
To register to vote, you must be a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of Muscogee County, at least 17 1/2 (must be 18 to vote on Election Day), not be serving a sentence for conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude and have not been found mentally incompetent by a judge.
You may register to vote online at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/voter-registration?IsRegisterNow=true, or you may download an application, complete it and mail it, by visiting https://www.columbusga.gov/Portals/elections/pdfs/voter-registration-mail-in.pdf.
Once the Secretary of State’s Office processes your registration request, a precinct card will be mailed to you. Your precinct card lets you know where you need to go to vote, but you do not need it when you vote.
If you have misplaced or have not received your precinct card within 3-to-4 weeks of submitting your voter registration application, contact the Muscogee County Columbus, Ga. Elections & Registration Office to request a new precinct card or to check the status of your application.
You can also verify your registration and voter location by visiting the Secretary of State’s website at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/.
If you have moved within Muscogee County complete the form on the back of your Voter Registration Precinct Card and mail the card to the following address: Voter Registration Office, P.O. Box 1340, Columbus, Ga. 31902-1340.
However, if you have moved to Muscogee County from a different county or state, or there has been a change to your legal name, you must complete a new Voter Registration Application to remain qualified to vote.
According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, if you cannot make it to the polls, to vote by absentee ballot, you must first fill out, sign, and submit an absentee ballot application no more than 78 days and no less than 11 days before the election. You can do this online, by mail, fax, email, or in person.
To complete the application online, visit https://securemyabsenteeballot.sos.ga.gov/s/absentee-ballot-request. If you want to fax, mail or turn the application in at the office, download your form at https://www.columbusga.gov/Portals/elections/pdfs/Absentee_Ballot_Application_.p-df?ver=du7K04TalP0REZn19GGNHA%3d%3d.
Fax your completed form to 706-225-4394, email it to MuscogeeAbsentee@columbusga.gov, or mail it to ATTN: Elections & Registration Office, P.O. Box 1340, Columbus, Ga. 31902-1340. Also, you can deliver the application in person to: Citizens Service Center – 2nd Floor, 3111 Citizens Way, Columbus, Ga. 31906.
After your application is reviewed and validated by the Elections Office, an Absentee Ballot will be mailed to the postal address on your application.
Once you receive your absentee ballot, fill it out and sign your name. Follow the directions that are included with the ballot.
Failure to complete your ballot correctly could cause your ballot to be disqualified and not counted. Mail your ballot to the Muscogee County Elections & Registration Office: ATTN: Elections & Registration Office
P.O. Box 1340, Columbus, Ga. 31902-1340.
All ballots must be mailed no later than Election Day.