ATLANTA -- Georgia's military and overseas citizens will be able to participate in the state's upcoming presidential primary by e-vote starting later this month.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp said those voters can access their absentee ballots electronically starting Jan. 21 for the Mar. 6 election.

Kemp and Georgia National Guard Adjutant General Jim Butterworth will conduct a joint outreach and education effort to promote voting opportunities for military personnel and their families.

Go here for more information: www.sos.ga.gov/mvp.

ATLANTA -- Jud Turner has been appointed director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR board made the appointment official this week after Gov. Nathan Deal nominated Turner for the post.

Turner replaces F. Allen Barnes, who is leaving to work in the private sector.

Turner is a founding partner in the law firm Turner, Bachman & Garrett LLC and public affairs firm Georgia360 LLC. He was former Gov. Sonny Perdue's lead attorney and represented the governor during negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service during the state's severe drought.

Turner has also served as general counsel to the Georgia Department of Education.

ATLANTA -- Voters in two cities and six counties in Metro Atlanta will decide Tuesday whether to renew a one-cent sales tax for school construction.

The education SPLOST is a one-cent special purpose local option sales tax that was first approved by voters in Atlanta, Decatur and Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Douglas and Henry counties in 1997.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, voters will be asked to continue that tax with SPLOST IV.

In DeKalb County, the renewal of ESPLOST would generate $475 million for dozens of capital projects, including new buildings, new roofs, air-conditioning systems, even smart boards in every classroom.