Repeal spaceport land purchase: yes or no?

Advance voting begins Saturday for the March 8 referendum that will allow voters to decide whether Camden County Board of Commissioners will be allowed to move forward with plans to purchase property at Harrietts Bluff from Union Carbide.

Camden officials have said they intend to develop the property as a commercial spaceport and the Federal Aviation Administration awarded a launch site operator license in December.

The referendum was ordered by Camden County Probate Judge Robert “Beau” Sweatt on Feb. 8. The wording of the ballot question came directly from a petition that was circulated via personal contact, direct mail and newspaper advertising to citizens in the community over the last several years.

Although some voters have complained that the wording is confusing, it essentially asks if the commissioner’s resolution to purchase the property should be repealed — yes or no.

Voters who have questions about voting status or where they vote may call the Camden County Board of Elections and Registration (BoER) at (912) 576-3245 or log into their personal voter account on the Georgia Secretary of State website at https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov.

A sample ballot is found online at https://www.camdencountyga.gov/1064/Sample-Ballots.

Absentee voting is available for the March 8 election, but they must be requested no later than Feb. 25.  They must be returned to the BoER office, 200 E. Fourth St., in Woodbine during business hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday) or at the satellite office during the advance voting hours listed below.

Advance in-person voting will be held at the Camden County Annex Building Community Room, 107 N. Gross Road, Kingsland, using electronic voting machines. The center will be open for early voting  9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28 through Friday, March 4. Election Day voting will be offered at all local polling places from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.