by Robin Kemp
Today is the first day of early voting in the “Fighting Fifth”‘s special election for the U.S. House of Representatives District 5 seat to finish out the term of the late Rep. John Lewis in Sept. 29 special election.
Keep in mind: the winner of this election will only be elected to serve until Jan. 3, 2021. You will need to vote on this seat again during the Nov. 3 Presidential election. At that time, Democrat Nikema Williams and Republican Angela Stanton King will run for the upcoming full term to represent the Fighting Fifth.
On the ballot are:
DEMOCRATS
- Robert M. Franklin (Atlanta)
- Kwanza Hall
- Barrington D. Martin, II (Atlanta)
- “Able” Mable Thomas (Atlanta)
- Keisha Sean Waites (Atlanta)
INDEPENDENT
- Steven Muhammad (East Point)
LIBERTARIAN
REPUBLICAN
- None
All candidates from all parties are on a single ballot for this special election. Click on each candidate’s name for a link to their Ballotpedia page to learn more about their backgrounds and positions.
You can cast your vote early at any of these four locations:
- Clayton County Elections and Registration Office, 2nd Floor, 121 S. McDonough St., Jonesboro
- Morrow Municipal Complex, 1500 Morrow Road, Morrow
- Carl Rhodenizer Recreation Center, 3499 Rex Road, Rex
- Virginia Burton Gray Recreation Center, 1475 E. Fayetteville Road, Riverdale
Polls will be open for early/advance voting during these days and times:
- Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Friday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 14 – Friday, Sept. 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 20 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 21 – Friday, Sept. 25 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If you are casting a paper “mail-in” advance ballot, you can deposit it directly into a secure, video-monitored ballot box at the Historic Courthouse in Jonesboro instead of mailing it.
On the special election day, which is Sept. 29, the following precincts will be open:
| PRECINCT | VOTING LOCATION | ADDRESS | ZIP CODE |
| *EW1 | UTOPIAN ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS | 2750 FOREST PARKWAY, ELLENWOOD | 30294 |
| *FP1 | FOREST PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL | 930 FINLEY DR, FOREST PARK | 30297 |
| *FP2 | HUIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 1260 ROCKCUT RD, FOREST PARK | 30297 |
| *FP3 | FOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY | 5212 WEST ST, FOREST PARK | 30297 |
| *FP4 | BABB MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5500 REYNOLDS RD, FOREST PARK | 30297 |
| FP5 | LIVING FAITH TABERNACLE | 5880 OLD DIXIE HWY, FOREST PARK | 30297 |
| *FP6 | HAYNIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 1169 MORROW RD, MORROW | 30260 |
| *JB08 | MOUNT ZION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 2984 MOUNT ZION RD, JONESBORO | 30236 |
| LC1 | CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY-ARBOR HALL | 5823 TRAMMELL ROAD, MORROW | 30260 |
| *MO1 | ANDERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 4199 OLD ROCKCUT ROAD, CONLEY | 30288 |
| MO2 | MORROW MUNICIPAL COMPLEX | 1500 MORROW ROAD, MORROW | 30260 |
| *MO3 | TRAVELERS REST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH | 6021 OLD MADDOX ROAD, MORROW | 30260 |
| MO4 | FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MORROW | 6475 MOUNT ZION BLVD., MORROW | 30260 |
| *MO5 | ADAMSON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 3187 REX RD, REX | 30273 |
| MO6 | CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER WORLDWIDE | 6337 GA HWY 42, REX | 30294 |
| *MO7 | MCGARRAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 2201 LAKE HARBIN RD, MORROW | 30260 |
| *MO8 | ROBERTA SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 6340 GA HIGHWAY 42 SOUTH, REX | 30273 |
| *MO9 | MOUNT ZION PRIMARY SCHOOL | 2920 MOUNT ZION ROAD, JONESBORO | 30236 |
| *OAK1 | NORTH CLAYTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5517 W FAYETTEVILLE ROAD, COLLEGE PARK | 30349 |
| *OAK 2 | NORTH CLAYTON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 1525 NORMAN DRIVE, COLLEGE PARK | 30349 |
| *OAK3 | WEST CLAYTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 5580 RIVERDALE RD, COLLEGE PARK | 30349 |
| OAK4 | CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH | 1500 NORMAN DR, COLLEGE PARK | 30349 |
If you have any questions about voting, or if you still need to register to vote in the Nov. 3 Presidential election, contact the Clayton County Elections and Registration office at (770) 477-3372 or visit their website at https://www.claytoncountyga.gov/government/elections-and-registration.
To check your voter registration status or the dates your mail-in/absentee ballot was requested, received, or sent out, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, visit the My Voter Page at https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do
To report voting irregularities, contact:
Also, let The Clayton Crescent know about any issues you may encounter.
Learn more about protecting the vote this year:
League of Women Voters (nonpartisan voting rights group also has Spanish-language website)
Remember: If your household hasn’t filled out the 2020 Census, do so. An accurate Census count ensures that you and your neighbors will have access to federal funding for things like schools, roads, and hospitals.
It also affects the way that Congressional districts, like the one in the District 5 race, as well as in Rep. David Scott’s 13th District, are drawn on the map.
Clayton County’s estimated population is significantly larger and its participation to date in the 2020 Census has been below average. That means Clayton County will have less money to budget for more residents unless people who live here get serious about responding to the Census. Clayton County’s response rate by Census tract indicates that people who live here are leaving a lot of government money on the table. Each number represents the percentage of households that have responded to the 2020 Census:
The numbers tell the tale: Until Clayton County residents do three things–register to vote, actually turn out to vote, and fill out the Census–they will continue to see fewer amenities, limited economic opportunities, and lower quality of life than they might otherwise. That could translate into having to pass more local taxes to make up the difference that greater voting and Census participation would provide.
