GWINNETT’S 2019 MARTA REFERENDUM

The ballot question: “Voters will see the ballot question phrased this way when they visit the polls: “Gwinnett County has executed a contract for the provision of transit services, dated as of August 2, 2018. Shall this contract be approved? YES __ NO __”

What it means: A yes vote would be a vote in support of ratifying Gwinnett’s pending transit service contract with MARTA, allowing it to take over Gwinnett’s current transit services and greatly expand them — including a possible rail extension into the Norcross area and an extensive bus system with diverse options.

A yes vote would also trigger a new 1 percent sales tax to pay for such projects. Purchases in Gwinnett are currently subject to 6 percent sales tax. The new countywide sales tax would remain in effect until 2057 and garner billions of dollars. Collected funds would be remitted to Gwinnett County, which would then write checks to MARTA for projects and operations.

Key dates: Election day is March 19.

Advance in-person voting is underway at the Gwinnett elections office (455 Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville) and at seven satellite locations through Friday. Voting hours are between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Satellite locations can be found at gwinnettcounty.com. Election Day voting will take place at each of the county’s 156 regular voting precincts.