The Parent Press: January 5th Runoff Election Details
Greetings, and Happy Holidays! At this time of year, all of us normally enjoy taking a break from politics (even me!) and celebrating with family and friends. Such is not to be in Georgia this year. COVID concerns are keeping many apart, even as we celebrate the news of the start of vaccine distribution to our healthcare workers. And we have possibly the most significant double election in the history of Georgia on January 5th, with both of our US Senate seats determining the balance of power in Washington – and with it, the amount of progress that can be made by our new President and Vice-President Elect.
Many still question whether the November 3rd Presidential election is truly settled. It is, but not in the minds of millions of Trump supporters. Since the November election, our democracy has been under attack by Donald Trump and his Republican enablers, who have flooded the American people with increasingly outlandish and conspiratorial lies, accompanied by a series of groundless (and unsuccessful!) lawsuits.
Despite the Trump campaign's best efforts, on Monday, the Electoral College met and cast its votes. Their vote confirmed that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won a clear majority, in a free and fair election. Your vote mattered.
Without your hard work and dedication, Democrats couldn't have won the presidency. Nor would we have a chance to take control of the U.S. Senate. On January 5th, with your help, Georgians can deliver a clear message to the country: we want government officials to prioritize the people they represent, not themselves.
Protect Our Democracy: Vote for Ossoff & Warnock on Jan. 5!
As elected officials, our job is to encourage the public's faith in the democratic process. Right now, Republican lawmakers are actively undermining the will of the people. Rather than accept Biden's victory in our state, Georgia Republicans have descended into civil war. Republican officials who stood up for the integrity of our elections have been attacked by an aggrieved Republican base (and so have some Democratic officials who pushed back against Trump's narrative, including yours truly). Furthermore, when Kelly Loeffler and David Purdue publicly called for GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (a fellow Republican) to resign based upon Trump's conspiratorial lies, they told Georgia voters which side they're on.
If Republicans maintain control in the Senate, they'll stonewall efforts that Joe Biden and other Democrats undertake. Emboldened by Trump's erosion of norms, they'll continue to choose lies over truth, partisanship over science, and power over public service.
Help the Biden administration protect and rebuild our democracy – and our nation – by voting for Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff for U.S. Senate! Don't wait until January 5th – make your plan to vote today. See details below.
Jan. 5 Election: Key Information
Candidates on the Ballot
U.S. Senate:
Jon Ossoff (Democrat) vs. David Perdue (Republican)
Rev. Raphael Warnock (Democrat) vs. Kelly Loeffler (Republican)
Public Service Commissioner:
Daniel Blackman (Democrat) vs. Lauren “Bubba” McDonald (Republican)
Early Voting HAS BEGUN!
Early in-person voting began on Monday and will extend through December 31! There are 12 early voting locations in DeKalb county, which are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Weekend voting is available this Saturday, Dec. 19th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 20thfrom noon to 6 PM. Early voting at the Agnes Scott location will begin on Monday, Dec. 21st.
If you’re concerned about wait times, plan ahead by checking the wait times at your preferred voting location before going to cast your ballot.
I also want to encourage all voters to practice social distancing and wear a mask for your own safety and the safety of our dedicated election workers.
Absentee Ballots
Due to the holiday mail rush, I want to encourage those of you who decide to vote by absentee ballot to quickly request and return your ballot. If you have not returned your absentee ballot at least 10 days before Jan. 5, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the drop box locations or to vote in-person instead!
Mark Your Calendar!
Early/Advance Voting: Now – Dec. 31, 2020
Absentee Voting: Now – Jan. 5, 2021*
Last Day to Submit Absentee Ballot Application: Dec. 31, 2020 (but do not wait this long! If you want to vote by absentee ballot, request your ballot immediately at https://ballotrequest.sos.ga.gov/.
Runoff Elections: Jan. 5, 2021
*Absentee ballots cannot be dropped off at advance voting locations. Absentee ballots must be dropped off at a drop box or mailed in (and postmarked) by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021.
Other Important Information
In order to ensure that all voters can participate in the electoral process, DeKalb has added FOUR new drop box locations. The locations are the Stonecrest Library, the DeKalb-Atlanta Senior Center, the North DeKalb Senior Center, and the South DeKalb Senior Center.
Due to renovations at the Briarwood Recreation Center in Brookhaven, voters assigned to this location will vote at the nearby Lynwood Recreation Center. This is the only scheduled polling location change for the Jan. 5 runoff.
For election notices and updates, check the local community papers and the DeKalbVotes.com!
COVID-19 Vaccine Updates
The FDA has authorized two COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use. The FDA uses rigorous scientific and regulatory processes to ensure the safety, effectiveness and quality of vaccines. Both of the recently authorized vaccines (developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) have met these standards. I want to assure you that these vaccines are safe and will help you protect yourself and your family from the deadly consequences of COVID-19!
The CDC, the FDA, and the Georgia Department of Health have all published information about vaccine use and safety on their websites. For more details, click on the links below.
GA COVID-19 Vaccine Plan (Georgia Department of Health)
Frequently Asked Questions re: COVID-19 Vaccines (CDC)
COVID-19 Vaccine Development and Authorization Process (FDA)
With your assistance, we can protect democracy and ensure that Georgia voters know that Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are the right choice for themselves, their families and our state’s future. Thank you for your support!
Thank you for the honor of serving as your State Senator!
