PUBLIC NOTICE: Absentee By Mail for Voters of Advanced Age or Disability

The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office has recently issued a bulletin with a directive as to absentee by mail ballot applications for voters meeting criteria of advanced age or disability. Based on this directive and the applicability to local special elections, the Floyd County Board of Elections and Voter Registration finds it important to provide clarification of O.C.G.A 21-2-381 (a)(1)(G) as it pertains to voters meeting the criteria of advanced age or disability.

When applying for an absentee by mail ballot in 2025, voters meeting the advanced age or disability criteria that complete an application within the deadline for a Special Election will be placed on a roll-over list for any following election pertaining to that Special Election, meaning in the case of a Run-off Election. However, for any other special primary or election in this cycle, voters in this category will be required to apply for separate and distinct applications for an absentee ballot within the allotted window of absentee by mail application acceptance.

The Floyd County Board of Elections and Voter Registration recognizes that this requirement may cause additional steps for voters in 2025 but must follow the requirements of O.C.G.A 21-2-381 (a)(1)(G).

In conclusion, for the calendar year of 2025, the absentee by mail application window for the March 18, 2025, Special Election began on December 31, 2024, and will end on March 7, 2025. Voters who meet criteria of advanced age or disability and indicate such on the absentee by mail application will automatically receive a ballot in case of a run-off but will need to reapply for any following elections in 2025.

Respectfully,
Akyn Beck
Director of Elections