This ballot breakdown is specific to Newton County. Your voting ballot is determined by the address you used when registering to vote, which at times can differ from your current place of residence. Please note that the asterisk (*) means you will see only one district (your specific district) reflected on your ballot.
To see your sample ballot please click here. You are allowed to print that ballot and take it with you to your polling place. If you are unable to print your voter ballot you can write your choices down on a clean sheet of paper and bring that with you to your polling place.
If you see anything that concerns you at the polls, contact the Election Protection hotline at 1-866-OUR VOTE (687-8683).
Names appear in the order as they would on the ballot. Pictures in blue frames are democratic (D) and red frame is republican (R). When available, names are hyperlinked to candidates’ official campaign website.
STATE RACES
GEORGIA GOVERNOR
Incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp (R) vs. Stacey Abrams (D)
US SENATE
Herschel Walker (R) vs Incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock (D)
LEUTNANT GOVERNOR
State Sen. Burt Jones (R) vs Charlie Bailey (D)
SECRETARY OF STATE
Incumbent Brad Raffensperger (R) and State Rep. Bee Nguyen (D)
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Incumbent Chris Carr (R) and State Sen. Jen Jordan (D)
AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER
State Sen. Tyler Harper (R) and Nakita Hemingway (D)
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Incumbent John King (R) and Janice Laws Robinson (D)
STATE SUPERINTENDENT
Richard Woods (R) and Alisha Thomas Searcy (D)
STATE LABOR COMMISSIONER
Sen. Bruce Thompson (R) and State Rep. William Boddie (D)
LOCAL RACES
UNITED STATES OF HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 4
Jonathan Chavez (R) and Henry C “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D)
STATE SENATE – DISTRICT 10*
Mike Collins (R) and Tabitha Johnson Green (D)
STATE SENATE – DISTRICT 17*
Incumbent Brian Strickland (R) and Kacy D. Morgan
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 93*
Melanie Williams (R) and Tonya P. Anderson (D)
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 113*
Incumbent Sharon Henderson (D)
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 114*
Tim Fleming (R) and Malcolm Adams (D)
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – DISTRICT 2*
Donnie Bryant (R) and Incumbent Demond Mason (D)
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – DISTRICT 4*
Scotty Scoggins (R) and Incumbent J.C. Henderson (D)
BOARD OF EDUCATION – DISTRICT 1*
Incumbent Trey Bailey (R) and Catalata Hardeman (D)
BOARD OF EDUCATION – DISTRICT 3*
Incumbent Shakila Henderson-Baker (D)
BOARD OF EDUCATION – DISTRICT 5*
Incumbent Abigail M. Coggin (R)
UPPER OCMULGEE RIVER SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISOR (Vote for Two)
Incumbent David T. Hayes and Incumbent Timothy Anderson
[Pictures not available]
GEORGIA BALLOT QUESTIONS
State Ballot Question 1
If approved, would allow the state not to pay state elected officials, including legislators, if they are indicted on felony charges. If the elected official is found not guilty, they would get paid back.
CONSIDER THIS: Elected officials get paid from Georgians’ (YOUR) taxes. In 2021, former Insurance Commissioner Jim Beck earned $200,000 while awaiting for his trial. Read more about it here and here.
WHAT THE BALLOT SAYS: 1- PROVIDES FOR SUSPENSION OF COMPENSATION OF CERTAIN STATE OFFICERS & MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. // Senate Resolution No. 134 Resolution Act No. 304
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to suspend the compensation of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, or any member of the General Assembly while such individual is suspended from office following indictment for a felony?”
State Ballot Question 2
Currently, Georgia doesn’t allow local officials to provide temporary tax relief to property owners after a natural disaster occurs. A ‘yes’ to this equals granting local authorities the power to provide tax relief (like adjusting the tax).
WHAT THE BALLOT SAYS: 2- PROVIDES FOR TEMPORARY LOCAL TAX RELEF AFTER DISASTERS // House Resolution No. 594 Resolution Act No. 803
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that the governing authority of each county, municipality, and consolidated government and the board of education of each independent and county school system in this state shall be authorized to grant temporary tax relief to properties within its jurisdiction which are severely damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster and located within a nationally declared disaster area?”
State Ballot Question 3
Georgia’s largest industry is forestry. This would provide a tax break on special equipment that timber producers and harvesters own or lease…liek skiddles, fellers burchers, and other heavy equipment that I never knew existed before this ballot question (lol).
WHAT THE BALLOT SAYS: A – Provides for ad valorem tax exemption for certain timber production, reforestation, and harvesting equipment. // House Bill No. 997 Act No. 859
“Shall the Act be approved which grants a state-wide exemption from all ad valorem taxes for certain equipment used by timber producers in the production or harvest of timber?”
State Ballot Question 4
Industry specific again, but on dairy & egg producers and family-owned farms.. Like above, this questions is also asking about tax exemption… You would vote “yes” here if you believe farms should be getting tax breaks on the equipment they share.
WHAT THE BALLOT SAYS: B- Expands ad valorem tax exemption for family-owned farms and adds qualified products to the exemption. /// House Bill No. 498 Act No. 260
“Shall the Act be approved which expands a state-wide exemption from ad valorem taxes for agricultural equipment and certain farm products held by certain entities to include entities comprising two or more family owned farm entities, and which adds dairy products and unfertilized eggs of poultry as qualified farm products with respect to such exemption?”
SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX
Now, when you see this on your ballot, approach it like a long grocery list… This is simply a list of approved projects that the county is looking to get approved by its citizens/residents (YOU). A penny tax, meaning sales tax would go from 6% to 7%, would be used to fund the projects.
SUMMARY: If you like the projects listed and don’t mind the penny tax vote “yes.” If you do not like the projects listed and you do mind the penny tax, vote no.
WHAT THE BALLOT SAYS: “Shall a special 1 percent sales and use tax be reimposed in the special district of Newton County for a period of time not to exceed six (6) years and for the raising of an estimated amount of $108,000,000 to be allocated among Newton County and the Cities located therein according to Section 6 (C) of the August 2, 2022, Intergovernmental Agreement for the Use and Distribution of Proceeds from the 2023 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for the following purposes: (1) the Newton County projects (the “County Projects”), including: Administration Building Reutilization at an estimated cost of $2,344,000; Brown Bridge Widening at an estimated cost of $12,000,000; Centralized Storage and Maintenance Facility at an estimated cost of $1,900,000; General Government Fleet Replacement at an estimated cost of $2,835,600; Hwy 278 Community Improvement District at an estimated cost of $1,000,000; Transportation County Wide Improvement at an estimated cost of $8,000,000; Transportation Resurfacing at an estimated cost of $8,370,000; Animal Services Expansion ‐ Phase II at an estimated cost of $1,075,000; Fire Services County Wide Improvements at an estimated cost of $4,895,000; Public Safety Fleet Replacement at an estimated cost of $9,541,040; County Wide Park Improvements at an estimated cost of $3,500,000; Library at an estimated cost of $900,000; Nelson Heights Improvements at $1,000,000; Newton Trails at an estimated cost of $1,000,000; RL Cousins Community Center at an estimated cost of $8,000,000; Senior Services Enrichment Center at an estimated cost of $4,536,960; Washington Street at an estimated cost of $1,000,000; Westside Community Park at an estimated cost of $3,402,720; Southside Park at an estimated cost of $2,268,480; District 5 Park at an estimated cost of $1,000,000; and Community Waterpark at an estimated cost of $5,671,200; (2) City of Covington projects, including: Road, Street and Bridge projects at an estimated cost of $17,361,860; (3) City of Oxford projects, including Water and Sewer Capital Improvements at an estimated cost of 1,500,000; Roads, Streets, Bridges, Sidewalks, and Related Improvements at an estimated cost of $675,000; Parks and Recreation at an estimated cost of $398,496; and Public Safety Facilities, Vehicles, and Equipment at an estimated cost of $250,000; (4) City of Porterdale projects, including Public Works Vehicles and Equipment at an estimated cost of $162,000; Public Safety Vehicles at an estimated cost of $240,000; Public Facilities for City Hall and/or Public Works at an estimated cost of $818,818; Public Safety Communication and Information Technology at an estimated cost of $80,000; Public Works Water and Sewer Projects at an estimated cost of $500,000; and Road, Street and Bridge Projects at an estimated cost of $400,000; (5) Town of Newborn Projects, including Road, Street and Bridge Projects at an estimated cost of $372,146; Public Facilities at an estimated cost of $248,097; Parks and Recreation at an estimated cost of $165,398; and Library at an estimated cost of $41,350; (6) City of Mansfield Projects, including Road, Street and Bridge Projects at an estimated cost of $540,730; and (7) City of Social Circle projects, including Transportation Improvements at an estimated cost of $6,106.”
CITY OF COVINGTON SPECIAL REFERENDUM ELECTION*
This is specifically for residents in the City of Covington. Those that live in the City of Covington pay a taxes for both the city and Newton County. Simply put, this homestead exemption is proposing taxes going down.
SUMMARY: A “yes” vote = taxes go down in the city
WHAT THE BALLOT SAYS: “Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from City of Covington ad valorem taxes for minimal purposes in the amount of $10,000 of the assessed values of the homestead for residents of that city?”
Special thanks to Attorney Stephanie Lindsey for the guidance and insight in helping me write this blog (and for your continued commitment to our community!).
Courageously Concerned 
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