Gwinnett County's early voting period will look a little different than others in recent memory thanks to coronavirus.
The county has changed early voting facilities, hours and available methods in order to adapt to new challenges presented by the pandemic.
The county’s original plan for the primary — rescheduled from May 19 and consolidated with the incomplete March vote for the Democratic presidential nominee — included eight early voting locations and longer hours on Sundays. Now, voters can cast a ballot at one of six locations or drop an absentee ballot in a secure box at one of nine locations.
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From May 18 to June 5, voters can cast votes at the Gwinnett County elections office and the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, both in Lawrenceville. Four other early voting locations — Bogan Park Community Recreation Center, George Pierce Community Recreation Center, Lenora Park Gym and Lucky Shoals Park Recreation Center — will be open to the public May 31 to June 5.
Voting will be available at the elections office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sundays. The fairgrounds will be open for voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sundays. There will be no voting at either location on Memorial Day, May 25.
Hours at the four locations opening May 31 will be noon to 7 p.m. on May 31 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from June 1 to June 5.
Dacula Park, Mountain Park Activity Center and Shorty Howell Park, which have traditionally been early voting locations, will not be used for in-person early voting. Elections officials believe it would be too difficult for poll workers and voters to maintain social distancing.
Voters submitting their ballots in person will be expected to practice social distancing, including staying six feet away from others whenever possible. Voting machines will be regularly sanitized.
Absentee ballot drop boxes will be available at the six early voting polling places as well as Dacula Park, Mountain Park Activity Center and Shorty Howell Park. Voters across Georgia have been sent absentee ballot applications by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. Once an absentee ballot has been received and filled out, voters can submit the ballot by mail or via the drop box.
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