SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Effingham County’s political parties are beginning preparations for the May 19 primary elections, where voters will weigh in on a slate of local, state and federal races that will shape the November general election.

The May 19 contest is part of Georgia’s statewide primary election, when voters choose which candidates will represent their party on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Several key local offices, including county commission and school board seats, are up for election, along with high-profile state and congressional races.

Candidates planning to run in the primary must qualify between March 2 and March 6. Voters must be registered by April 20 to participate.

Races on the ballot

Voters will cast ballots in two U.S. House races, each for two-year terms: U.S. House District 1, currently held by Rep. Buddy Carter, and U.S. House District 12, currently held by Rep. Rick Allen.

At the county level, three seats on the Effingham County Board of Commissioners are up for re-election, each carrying four-year terms. The races include District 2, held by Roger Burdette; District 3, held by Jamie DeLoach; and District 5, held by Phil Kieffer.

Two Effingham County Board of Education seats will also appear on the ballot. School board races are nonpartisan, and the terms are four years. The seats are currently held by Lynn Anderson and Ben Johnson.

Several state legislative seats that include Effingham County voters will be contested as well. In the Georgia House of Representatives, District 159 is represented by John Burns and District 161 by Bill Hitchens, with each seat carrying a two-year term. In the Georgia Senate, District 4 is represented by Billy Hickman.

Laura Bassett, Effingham County’s director of elections and registration, said the primary provides voters with an important opportunity to influence who appears on the general election ballot.

“The upcoming primary is a chance for folks in Effingham County to have their say,” Bassett said. “Every race on the ballot matters, and by showing up and voting, we help make sure our leaders reflect the values and priorities of the people who live right here in our community.”

She also noted that no Democrats qualified for any open partisan seats during the last election.

Democrats focus on turnout

Ivy Gibbons, chairwoman of the Effingham County Democratic Committee, said local party leaders are working to increase participation ahead of May’s primary. The committee met Jan. 24 for a planning meeting focused on voter outreach, registration efforts and encouraging candidates to qualify for local and state races.

“For the first time in a while, Effingham County residents are going to have multiple local Democratic candidates to choose from,” Gibbons said. “Local Effingham County candidates will be running in federal congressional district primaries all the way down to local seats.”

Republicans mobilize

Brittany Dasher, chair of the Effingham County Republican Party, said the local GOP is also actively preparing for the May 19 primary and is focused on encouraging participation among Republican voters.

While Effingham County consistently posts high turnout among registered Republican voters, Dasher said party leaders continue to encourage both new and existing voters who align with Republican values to register and participate in primary elections.

“While we have an extremely high voting rate for registered Republicans in this county, we still actively encourage new and existing citizens who align with our party’s ideals and beliefs to register and vote — not only in general elections, but primaries as well,” she said.

She said most Republican candidates running for local and statewide office have either met with her in person or spoken with her by phone to discuss their races and campaign logistics. 

Dasher emphasized the importance of participating in the primary election, noting that it plays a key role in shaping the November ballot.

“We would like to remind voters that the primary is just as important as the general election,” she said. “It is their only chance to decide which candidate from their party will be on the ballot in the general election, and it is often when local ballot questions are decided as well.”

More information on early voting, absentee ballots and polling locations will be released as the primary election approaches.