After a busy 2024, the Elections and Registration Department and the Board of Elections made sure to thank their many volunteers and workers.
The people who staff the polls at the precincts were recognized Friday afternoon at the East End Complex’s John McIver Auditorium and honored for their efforts to “This is a day of joy and celebration and a chance to say thank you,” said Tirae Stevens, voter outreach coordinator, “recognizing what how much value you carry and what you do in the field of elections.”
Last year, the elections department ran a presidential preference primary, a general election primary and finally a general election.
“While Iron Man, Superman and Captain America are beloved super heroes, you all are beloved election heroes,” Stevens said. “You all remained calm and collected, no matter how people were feeling. When they showed up, you showed out. Our voters repeatedly said they were impressed by how the election flowed.”
Voter turnout for the November general election was 64% of the county’s more than 36,000 registered voters.
“The mission was to make sure any eligible voter could cast a ballot,” Stevens said. “Consider that mission well accomplished.”
Cynthia Smith was named the poll worker of the year, and elections board members Linda Martin and Stephanie Woods were honored with the Making a Difference/ Service Award. The Extra Mile Award went to Avis Lindsay, Lourae Kobusch was named the Rising Star and the Visionary Award went to Candice Jones.
Cheynelle James was named the elections department’s rookie of the year, Donald Spencer received the “Consider It Done” award, Timika Sumpter was given the Behind the Scenes award, Percy Price received the Force to be Reckoned With award, Phyllis Nelems won the Unmatched Dedication award, the Above and Beyond award went to Sheryl Rozier and Stevens was honored as the instructor of the year.
Even in an off year, when no county offices are up for election, the elections department still has plenty of work to do. There already has been an election for the school board’s education special purpose local option sales tax extension and there likely will be a vote this fall on the renewal of the transportation SPLOST and on the adoption of the floating local option sales tax.
In between, there is a primary election for two seats on the state’s Public Service Commission next month.
Elections and registration staff and volunteers have processed more than 89,000 ballots in the last few years, said Ronda Walthour, chief registrar and elections supervisor.
“You guys are awesome,” she said. “It takes a team and it takes a village to do what we go.”