A look at the March 21 county ballot

Advance voting begins Monday, February 27 in the countywide March 21 special election. On the ballot are two races and one question. The Clayton Crescent is preparing in-depth candidate profiles to help you learn more about each person running for office.

For now, we are linking each candidate’s name to their campaign website or Facebook page. You also can look up each candidate’s declaration of intent and campaign finance disclosures as filed (or not) with the county, and with the state

No write-in candidates qualified for this election, according to Elections and Registration.

The Clayton Crescent does not endorse candidates for office.

House District 75

House District 75 is holding a special election to fill the unexpired term of former Rep. Mike Glanton, who stepped down for health reasons. The candidates include:

• Herman “Drew” Andrews (D)
• Della Ashley (R)
• Eric W. Bell, II (D)

Clayton County Sheriff

All eligible voters countywide can cast their vote in the sheriff’s race to fill the unexpired term of Victor Hill, who retired after a federal jury convicted him of violating pretrial detainees’ rights by strapping them into restraint chairs without cause and for extended periods of time. The current acting sheriff is Levon Allen, who was sworn in just before Christmas break. The candidates include:

• Levon Allen (incumbent)
• Clarence Cox
• Terry Evans
• Dwayne Fabian
• Chris Storey

SPLOST School Tax

All eligible voters countywide can also decide whether or not to approve a one-percent sales and use tax for the next five years to pay for $434,660,000 in bonds for the Clayton County School District. The money would be used for:

• one new high school, three new elementary schools, and one new early learning center
• school buses, service vehicles, and “navigational, surveillance, communications, and safety and security enhancements for existing school buses and service vehicles”
• computers for students, teachers, staff, and other “instructional and administrative technology improvements”
• land for more schools and athletic facilities
• repairs and renovations to “existing school buildings, athletic facilities, administrative facilities, event facilities [most notably, the planned convocation center in the old Sears store at Southlake Mall], and other buildings and facilities useful or desirable in connection therewith”
• “acquiring any necessary property therefor, both real and personal, all at a maximum cost of $350,000,000”

Absentee ballot

You can request a paper absentee ballot through March 10. Below is the official application from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. Fill it out, print it out, sign it, include a copy of your approved ID, and turn it in any of these ways:

• fax it to (770) 477-4521
• e-mail it to elections@claytoncountyga.gov
• mail it to or drop it off at Clayton County Elections and Registration, Jonesboro Historical Courthouse, Main Floor, 121 South McDonough Street, Jonesboro, GA 30236.

Military/Overseas Ballot

You can send in your military or UOCAVA questions or ballot to claytonuocava@claytoncountyga.gov.

When to vote early

Advance voting will take place on these dates:

• Monday, February 27—Friday, March 3: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, March 4: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, March 5: 12 noon to 5 p.m.
• Monday, March 6—Friday, March 10: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, March 11: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Monday, March 13—Friday, March 17: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Where to vote early

Seven advance voting locations, three of which offer paper absentee ballot drop boxes, are available for this election include:

Where to vote on March 21

If you wait until Election Day to vote, you should go to your precinct. The Elections and Registration Office keeps an updated list of precincts on its website. As of press time, the latest update was in May 2022. Should any locations change, we will let you know.

You can check your precinct, state House district, and other individual voter information online through the My Voter Page at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov at the Georgia Secretary of State’s Elections Office.

Questions?

Contact Clayton County Elections and Registration at (770) 477-3372. The office at the Historic Courthouse will be open again starting Monday, February 27 following repairs from pipes that burst during the Christmas freeze. You also can e-mail elections@claytoncountyga.gov with any questions.

Dig deeper!

We want you to know how to check out candidates’ campaign finances. Try these resources:

• Georgia Campaign Finance System (filings with the state of Georgia)
• Easy Campaign Finance Portal (filings with Clayton County)
• Georgia Campaign Rules and Regulations and Updated Rule
• Georgia Campaign Finance Act
• Campaign Finance Complaint Form (read about Enforcement first)