Monday Feb. 1^st is the last day to register to vote if you want to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary on March 1^st.  Most people believe that this primary directly affects which Democrat or Republican candidate appears nationwide on the November ballot.  Actually, the result of the Presidential Preference Primary affects the nationwide presidential candidates in a round-about way.

Your vote on March 1^st is a vote for how the electoral college will represent Georgia at the Republican and Democrat National Conventions this summer. Georgia has 17 electoral votes.  Georgia is also a winner-takes-all state.  For example, if Marco Rubio wins the Presidential Preference Primary in Georgia on March 1^st, then the 17 Georgia delegates to the Republican National Convention are obliged to vote for Marco Rubio to be the Republican candidate.  Likewise, if Bernie Sanders receives the majority of the Democrat vote, then the 17 Georgia delegates to the Democratic National Convention are obliged to vote for Bernie Sanders as the Democratic candidate.  The Bush v. Gore election in 2000 highlights the importance of the electoral college vote.  In 2000, Gore won the popular vote and Bush won the electoral vote.  Thus, Bush became President.

You can register to vote several ways: at the library, at the Board of Elections office in the  courthouse or on-line at registertovote.sos.ga.gov.  If you register at the library or courthouse, you need to bring your Driver’s License or state-issued ID.

The next election date in Fannin County is May 24^th.  To vote in this election, you must register by April 26th.  The May 24^th election is very importance in shaping the county government and its future direction since all county government elected positions are up for vote except the Post 2 Commissioner and two Board of Education seats.

Winner takes all