Georgia delays March Democratic primary

Bloomberg

Election officials in Georgia will postpone the Democratic primary scheduled for March 24 until May 19 due to worries about the coronavirus pandemic, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said.
“Events are moving rapidly and my highest priority is protecting the health of our poll workers, their families, and the community at large,” said Raffensperger, a Republican.
A person familiar with the decision said it was made after poll workers said they would stay away from work on primary day for fear of being exposed to the highly-infectious Covid-19 virus. At least 66 people in Georgia have contracted the coronavirus and one has died.
“Our priority is to protect the health and safety of all Georgians and to ensure that as many Georgians as possible have an opportunity to vote,” said State Senator Nikema Williams, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Georgia. “Continued in-person voting could compromise both goals.”
Early voting in the Georgia primary started on March 2. Williams said that votes already cast in person or by mail would count, but that people could choose to vote again on May 19 and void their original ballot.

Absentee Voting
Georgia is looking at sending every registered voter over 65 — considered by medical experts to be more likely to become seriously ill if they contract the novel coronavirus — absentee ballot applications for the May primary, said Jordan Fuchs, deputy secretary of state.
David Worley, Democratic member of Georgia’s State Election Board, said he was concerned the pandemic would still be a danger in May and that rather than risking in-person voting, the state should go to “all mail-in ballots.”
Georgia’s decision comes after Louisiana said on March 13 it would move its April 4 contest to June 20 because of the coronavirus. In addition, Wyoming has suspended the in-person part of its Democratic caucuses, also scheduled for April 4. Officials are urging people to vote by mail instead.
Four states — Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio — are scheduled to hold primaries on Tuesday.
The decision was reported earlier by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.