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City of Cleveland -
City of Helen
Monday, Oct. 7, is the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming municipal elections for Cleveland and Helen, with early voting starting the week after.
There are several ways for residents to register, said White County Voter Registrar Lisa Manning. Those options include going online to the secretary of state’s website (sos.ga.gov), registering when getting a driver’s license renewed, going to White County’s public libraries or by visiting the voter registrar’s office in the Mauney Building at 1241 Helen Highway, Suite 210-A, in Cleveland.
Manning said those registering in person should be sure to bring photo identification to show that they are a citizen. If a person doesn’t have an updated license showing a White County address, they need to bring a valid identification and a bill showing their White County address.
To register to vote or to check your registration status online, visit sos.ga.gov and click on the elections tab. The voter registrar’s office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be reached at 706-865-7812.
Early voting beings Monday, Oct. 14, and runs through Friday, Nov. 1. Early voting will take place at the respective city halls.
At Helen City Hall, early voting will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., said Helen city clerk Marilyn Chastain. At Cleveland City Hall, early voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., said Cleveland city clerk Connie Tracas. If an absentee ballot is needed, the person can submit a request, and it will be sent out during early voting weeks.
Cleveland voters who wait until Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, will go to Cleveland First Baptist to cast their ballots, Tracas said. Helen voters will still go to city hall on Election Day, Chastain said.
For the Cleveland election, the only item on the ballot will be the referendum question in regards to the “brunch bill.” If approved, this would allow the sale of distilled spirits or alcoholic beverages on Sundays beginning at 11 a.m. instead of the current start at 12:30 p.m.
Three Cleveland City Council positions were slated to be up for re-election, however, only the incumbents, Shan Ash (mayor), Nan Bowen (Ward 1) and Annie Sutton (Ward 2) qualified to run. Three candidates will be vying for two spots on the Helen City Commission. Those candidates are incumbents Jeff Ash and Cinnamon Spurlock and former commissioner Fred Garmon.