Henry Daily Herald

McDONOUGH — Henry County voters who are not registered to vote only have a month remaining if they hope to register and vote in the Nov. 6 General Election.

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp and local officials are reminding residents that September is National Voter Registration Month.

Elections officials are campaigning to make eligible voters aware of registration deadlines and requirements for the Nov. 6 General Election. They also are promoting state resources to help with the registration process.

"As Georgians and citizens of the United States of America, we have no more solemn honor than our privilege to cast a vote," said Kemp. "As Georgias chief elections officer, I want to make sure that every Georgian has the opportunity to register to vote and make their voice heard at the poll."

Georgia citizens have until Oct. 9 to register to vote in the General Election. Registration applications must be postmarked or hand delivered by that date.

The registration must be done in time for advanced and absentee voting, which begins Oct. 15 in Henry County. Saturday voting in Henry is scheduled for Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Polls open at 7 a.m. for the Nov. 6 General Elections and close at 7 p.m.

Officials noted that, despite record-breaking registration and voter turnout levels during the November 2008 presidential election, 6 million potential voters nationwide did not cast a ballot because they missed a voter registration deadline or did not know how to register to vote.

Henry County Elections and Registration Director Janet Shellnutt urges voters to study and be prepared to vote by knowing what will be on the ballot before they get behind the voting machines. She said doing so will save voters time and mitigate long lines in early voting.

"We voted 70,000 people early four years ago," said Shellnutt. "But we had 45 days to do it in. We only have 21 days this year."

More about voter registration is available online at http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/how_to_register.htm or at the Henry County Registrars Office at 345 Phillips Drive in McDonough. Call the office at 770-288-6448 or visit www.co.henry.ga.us/Registrars/VoterRegistration.shtml.