GA Presidential Primary Postponed Over Coronavirus: Officials
ATLANTA, GA — The latest change to life in Georgia because of the new coronavirus is the postponement of the presidential primary, which was set for March 24. Instead, the Democratic presidential race will be included in Georgia’s May 19 primary, which is when residents will select candidates for Congress, the state legislature, and local city council and school board races.
In-person voting presents an increased health risk to voters and poll workers who could contract COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, state officials said. As of Saturday, one person in Cobb County has died from the respiratory virus, and the number of confirmed and presumed positive cases of COVID-19 rose from 42 on Friday to 66 cases in 15 counties.
Gov. Brian Kemp declared a public health emergency on Saturday as metro Atlanta schools and colleges plan closures, while President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency.
“Events are moving rapidly and my highest priority is protecting the health of our poll workers, their families, and the community at large,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Saturday night.
Maintaining the integrity of the election depends on poll workers who are in the high-risk group because their average age is over 70, he said. So concern for their health is a central consideration in the decision.
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Georgians who have already cast their vote in person or by mail for the March 24 primary will be able to vote again in the May 19 primary for the elections already scheduled for that date. Voters who have already cast their vote for the March 24 primary and do not vote again in the May 19 primary will have their votes for the presidential preference primary counted, state party leaders said.
“Our priority is to protect the health and safety of all Georgians and to ensure that as many Georgians as possible have an opportunity to vote,” said State Sen. Nikema Williams, the chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia. “Continued in-person voting could compromise both goals.”
Early voting in Georgia for the 2020 presidential preference primary began March 2.
Raffensperger said that all votes already cast in person and all absentee ballots will be counted and every Georgia voter who has not yet had a chance to cast a ballot in the March 24 elections will be able to do so on May 19, along with the elections already scheduled for that date.
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The Centers for Disease Control recommends those, including seniors, who are at greater risk from COVID-19 limit their exposure to the virus by keeping space between themselves and others, avoiding crowds, and staying at home during outbreaks in their community.