The Nov. 5 Presidential Election Day is a month away, and Jones County voters have several important decisions to make locally.
Jones County has one contested local race, and that is in County Commission District 4. All the other races were either unopposed or determined in the May 21 Primary.
Commissioner Daylon Martin, the incumbent, is challenged by Alton West. Martin is a Democrat and has served in the position since his election in 2012.
West qualified to run as a Republican. His name may be familiar as he also challenged Martin in the 2016 election.
Jones County voters have two special election items on the Nov. 5 ballot. The first is the approval of a local Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax to assist with paving, construction, maintenance and repairs of Jones County roads.
If approved, the one-cent sales tax would be divided with the City of Gray, with a 75-25 split, to assist with its road expenses. Since the opening of the Gray Bypass, Gray Highway is no longer a state highway, which means the city is responsible for all its expenses, including traffic signals.
The anticipated collections for the six-year penny tax is estimated at $22 million that would go a long way in taking the load off property taxes.
TSPLOST funds would be collected when anyone makes a purchase in Jones County, including those visiting or passing through and stopping to shop or eat at local restaurants. For that reason, it has been touted as the most fair tax because everyone pays.
The other special election question is the package sales of distilled spirits within the unincorporated area of Jones County. The Jones County Commissioners have discussed the proposal for years due to the stores outside of the county receiving the tax benefits from the money spent by Jones County customers.
The Nov. 5 ballot also contains two proposed amendments to the Georgia Constitution, HR 1022 and HR 598, and a statewide referendum question HB 808. Information about those items can be found online at https://legiscan.com/GA or https://ballotpedia. org/Georgia.
Important upcoming election dates The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 5 General Election is Oct. 7. Registration can be done online at mvp.sos.ga.gov or in person at the Jones County Elections Office located in the Government Center. The address of the Government Center is 166 Industrial Blvd.
Jones County Election Superintendent Marion Hatton said absentee ballots will be going out beginning Oct. 7. To request an absentee ballot, call the elections office at 478-986-3222.
The last day to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 25.
Early Voting starts in Jones County Oct. 15 and continues until Nov. 1. Those dates include two Saturdays, Oct. 19 and 26.
The hours for Early Voting each of those days are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Early voting will be held only at the Government Center.
Voters who wait until Nov. 5 to vote will go to their precincts. The is no voting at the Elections Office on the Nov. 5 Election Day.
All Jones County precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 5.
