Georgia Primaries Postponed Again Due to the Coronavirus

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Photo credit (Photo Credit: Office of GA Secretary of State)

The state’s presidential primary election has been postponed until June 9 due to the challenges brought on by COVID-19.

Over the past several weeks, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has been pressured from both state and local leaders to postpone the May 19th election date amid the coronavirus pandemic. Raffensperger refused to budge because according to section 21-2-50.1 of the Georgia Code, the Secretary of State says he is allowed to postpone an election after the governor declares a state of emergency, but postponement cannot exceed 45 days.

As a result of Governor Brian Kemp's recent extension of the public health state of emergency until May 13, in a statement, Raffersperger says that now he can comfortably exercise his authority. 

“Due to the Governor’s extension of the state of emergency through a time period that includes almost every day of in-person voting for an election on May 19, and after careful consideration, I am now comfortable exercising the authority vested in me by Georgia law to postpone the primary election until June 9,” said Secretary Raffensperger. “This decision allows our office and county election officials to continue to put in place contingency plans to ensure that voting can be safe and secure when in-person voting begins and prioritizes the health and safety of voters, county election officials, and poll workers.”

Initially, the primary was to take place on March 24 but now has been pushed even further to June 9. Absentee ballot applications for the upcoming primary election will continue to be accepted. Once county election officials properly verify the signature on the application, the voter will be sent an absentee ballot for the primary election now to be held on June 9.

To check your voting poll location, visit https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.dot.