Early voting for the pivotal general primaries begins April 27 in Oconee County, Georgia, setting the stage for a high-stakes election season with critical congressional and state legislative races on the line. The Oconee County Board of Elections has confirmed that advance in-person voting will be available through May 15, including two Saturday sessions on May 2 and May 9. Voting hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. No Sunday voting will be held.
Voters can cast ballots at the Oconee County Administrative Building, 7635 Macon Highway, Watkinsville, GA, which also hosts the absentee ballot drop box during the same weekday and weekend hours. This expanded access window comes as voters face a broad ballot with major decisions impacting local, state, and federal leadership.
Key races energize voter turnout
The elections will determine nominees to replace Republican Rep. Mike Collins representing Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. The Republican primary field includes former state representative Jeff Baker, current House member Houston Gaines, and businessman Ryan Millsap. On the Democratic side, contenders are Pamela “Pam” Delancy, Alexandra “Lexy” Doherty, and John Dority.
Additionally, three state seats representing Oconee County in the Georgia General Assembly are up for grabs. Outgoing State Senator Bill Cowsert is running for attorney general, opening District 46 to new candidates. Republican aspirants include Michael Broun, Doug McKillip, and Marc McMain, while Democratic challengers are William Gaulden and Ray Smith.
Meanwhile, with Houston Gaines pursuing Congress, the District 120 state House seat is contested by Republicans Gary “Ward” Black Jr. and Chad Paton, plus Democrat Suzanna Karatassos. Incumbent Democratic State Representative Eric Gisler seeks reelection for District 121 and faces no primary opposition before meeting Republican Mack “Dutch” Guest IV in November’s general election.
Voting logistics and ballot details
Georgia’s open primary system allows voters to choose between Democratic, Republican, or Nonpartisan ballots without party registration restrictions. The Nonpartisan Ballot features only judicial races and a crucial referendum for renewing the county’s 1% SPLOST tax to fund special projects.
Partisan ballots cover extensive races, including governor, lieutenant governor, General Assembly, and congressional contests, plus the judicial races and SPLOST referendum. Notably, the Democratic ballot excludes local Oconee County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education seats, reflecting the party’s absence from those races.
Both Democratic and Republican ballots contain party-specific nonbinding questions to shape policy priorities, with seven on the Democratic ballot and eight on the Republican side.
Why this matters now
The primaries will set the political direction for Oconee County and wider Georgia, affecting leadership in Washington D.C. and the state capital. Voters’ choices will influence legislation, local governance, and funding for community projects through the SPLOST referendum.
The accessibility of advanced in-person voting aims to increase participation ahead of the primaries closing on May 15. The Oconee County Board of Elections urges residents to utilize early voting to avoid Election Day congestion and ensure their voices are heard in these critical decisions.
For voter convenience, sample ballots and candidate information are available on the Oconee County Board of Elections website, with further candidate insights expected following the recent April 21 candidate forum.
Oconee County residents should mark their calendars for this immediate voting opportunity starting April 27 to engage decisively in shaping their government’s future.
