For the first time in Douglas County’s history, the Douglas County Board of Elections and Registration Department has decided to provide a sixth advance voting location geared to older adults age 55 and older, serving Douglas County’s largest voting block of citizens.
“We are trying to accommodate all our voting citizens but also increase our customer service, focusing on Douglas County’s older adult population,” said County Elections Director Milton Kidd. “Older adults are very active voters in the county and demonstrate their civic duty by being the most in attendance at the commissioners’ work sessions, commission meetings and various other events.”
The largest number of voters during Advance Voting visit the courthouse, but older adults have expressed concerns about how challenging voting at the courthouse is for them, according to a county statement.
As a result, the Elections and Registration Department will provide a secured area for older adults to vote in the Woodie Fite Senior Center, 8750 Dorris Road, Douglasville.
“This is a large, strategic, coordinated effort to prepare for what is anticipated to be a very vast voter turnout for the 2020 election cycle,” said Rick Martin, director of the Douglas County Communications and Community Relations Department.
“Our Board of Elections and Registration Department Team hosted a meeting recently with our External Affairs Department, Senior Services director, Woodie Fite Senior Center director and I to come up with a game plan to serve older adults in Douglas County during the upcoming elections,” Martin added.
This year’s schedule for advance voting is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 9-13, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 4-8 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 19-23.
“Too often our older adults have expressed they feel forgotten,” Martin said. “The Board of Commissioners, through Douglas County’s Board of Elections Department, is committed to make sure that will not be the case.”
The county intends to run shuttle van services from the Douglas County Transportation Center and the courthouse to the Woodie Fite Center and other county locations.
Free transportation for voting purposes only will be provided but must be scheduled 24 hours in advance.
Any interested citizens are asked to call 770-920-7213 to schedule a pickup.
The Woodie Fite Senior Center, an adult recreation and educational facility for those over the age of 55, is a part of Douglas County Senior Services that serves active adults with specialized activities and fitness to help promote healthy aging.
Information: Martin at 770-920-7303 or RickMartin@co.douglas.ga.us
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