Candidates for U.S. House District 5 special election

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

INDEPENDENT

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:

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:

PRECINCTVOTING LOCATIONpage1image1867644992ADDRESSZIP CODE
*EW1UTOPIAN ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS2750 FOREST PARKWAY, ELLENWOODpage1image186639600030294
*FP1FOREST PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL930 FINLEY DR, FOREST PARKpage1image186778750430297page1image1867189280 page1image1864880944
*FP2HUIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL1260 ROCKCUT RD, FOREST PARK30297
*FP3FOUNTAIN ELEMENTARY5212 WEST ST, FOREST PARKpage1image186707214430297
*FP4BABB MIDDLE SCHOOL5500 REYNOLDS RD, FOREST PARKpage1image186707737630297page1image1867116704 page1image1867114272
FP5LIVING FAITH TABERNACLE5880 OLD DIXIE HWY, FOREST PARK30297
*FP6HAYNIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL1169 MORROW RD, MORROWpage1image186708508830260page1image1866960896 page1image1867086048
*JB08MOUNT ZION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL2984 MOUNT ZION RD, JONESBORO30236
LC1CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY-ARBOR HALL5823 TRAMMELL ROAD, MORROWpage1image186767219230260
*MO1ANDERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL4199 OLD ROCKCUT ROAD, CONLEY30288
MO2MORROW MUNICIPAL COMPLEX1500 MORROW ROAD, MORROWpage1image186769540830260
*MO3TRAVELERS REST MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH6021 OLD MADDOX ROAD, MORROWpage1image186771371230260
MO4FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MORROW6475 MOUNT ZION BLVD., MORROWpage1image183491680030260page1image1866962320
*MO5ADAMSON MIDDLE SCHOOL3187 REX RD, REX30273
MO6CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER WORLDWIDE6337 GA HWY 42, REXpage1image1867180512 page1image186709441630294
*MO7MCGARRAH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLpage1image18669707042201 LAKE HARBIN RD, MORROW30260
*MO8ROBERTA SMITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL6340 GA HIGHWAY 42 SOUTH, REXpage1image186713963230273
*MO9MOUNT ZION PRIMARY SCHOOL2920 MOUNT ZION ROAD, JONESBORO30236
*OAK1NORTH CLAYTON MIDDLE SCHOOLpage1image18669865925517 W FAYETTEVILLE ROAD, COLLEGE PARK30349
*OAK 2NORTH CLAYTON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL1525 NORMAN DRIVE, COLLEGE PARKpage1image183497089630349
*OAK3WEST CLAYTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL5580 RIVERDALE RD, COLLEGE PARK30349
page1image1834953088OAK4CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH1500 NORMAN DR, COLLEGE PARK30349
*School Site

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:

Georgia Secretary of State

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)

NAACP Legal Defense Fund


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.