“I’ve heard so many stories like this,” Gibbs said. “I’m afraid people will be scared to register to vote. There’s a lot of misinformation going around and I just wanted to register people to vote.

“It is really an important election coming up and it will change the course of history. I do have a candidate I support, but I care about people showing up to vote more than who they vote for.”

Gibbs said she picked up voter registration packets from the Tift County Board of Elections and Registration office. Jean Edwards, election supervisor, said Friday that anyone can get the forms and mail the completed ones back to her office or hand-deliver them to the office for processing. She said that those who conduct the voter registration drives can include copies of various forms of identification in with the person’s voter registration card. Gibbs said she included the person’s driver’s license and Social Security numbers on the form after looking at those forms of identification. The county offices then conduct any verification necessary before finalizing approval of the person’s registration.

Gibbs said that she didn’t get names of the people who questioned her about the voter registration during the day and she was nervous when the law enforcement officer approached her.

“I’ve been brought up to respect authority,” Gibbs said.

Omega Police Chief Walt Young could not be reached for comment Monday.

According to information on Georgia Secretary of State Karen C. Handel’s Web site at http://sos.georgia.gov/, the law prohibits any benefit or “reward” such as balloons, candy, school credits, etc., from being provided in exchange for registering to vote or voting.” The site also encourages those organizing voter registration drives to “Be creative with your table - decorate it with bunting, balloons and/or signs encouraging people to ‘Register to Vote here.’”

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.