Early Voting Underway in Talbot

Early and Advanced voting began in Talbot County on Oct. 13 for the Nov. 3 General Election.

Voters can cast a vote Monday through Friday until Oct. 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and on two Saturdays Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Advanced voting is being held at the Talbot County Board of Election and Registration office located at 1761 Geneva Highway in Talbotton.

There are several local races on the ballots, as well as some city elections. Those races are as follows:

Of special interest in Geneva is the race for the unexpired term of Gregory and Susan Lockhart in a special election. Marc Burke and Edith M. Gates are seeking to fill the seats are are unopposed.

Residents of the County Commission District 1 in Talbotton will be casting a vote for Incumbent Democratic candidate Walter Wilson, Jr. or Independent candidate Andrew Hall.

Also residents of the City Council Post 3 area of Talbotton will be able to vote for Tracey Banks for the seat.

Box Springs voters will determine the outcome of two races. Incumbent Democratic candidate Anthony Couch will see opposition from Independent candidate Dormarco J. Howard in the race for the District 3 County Commission seat. Also, Democrat Carolyn Dewberry Parker is the lone candidate seeking the District 3 Board of Education seat.

In the Flint Hill area, some voters will cast a vote for the District 4 Board of Education seat and some voters will be able to vote District 2 County Commission race and the District 2 Board of Education race. Incumbent Ken Chapman who represents District 2 as County Commissioner does not have opposition in his bid for re-election. Walter Swan, Sr. is also unopposed in his quest for the District 4 Board of Education seat. In the race for District 2 Board of Education, Republican Danny W. Barron, Sr. and Democrat James E. Leonard will face off. Residents who cast votes in the Valley area will also have the opportunity to vote for District 2 County Commissioner and the District 2 Board of Education candidates.

Voters in the O’Neal voting precincts will also voted for the District 3 County Commission race between Incumbent Democrat Anthony Couch and Independent candidate Domarco J. Howard and for District 3 Board of Education candidate Carolyn Dewberry Parker.

Voters throughout Talbot County will be asked to cast a vote for or against the renewal of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

There are a number of state and local races, as well as, Constitutional Amendments on the ballot.

In the race for U.S. Senate, Incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff will see opposition from Republican candidate Mike Collins.

Republican candidate Rick Jackson and Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms are battling for the Governor’s seat.

Republican Greg Doiezal and Democrat Josh McLaurin are vying or the Lieutenant Governor’s seat.

While there are several other state races on the ballot, there are tow that may that be of the most interest to voters.

Incumbent Democratic candidate Sanford Bishop has opposition in his bid for re-election from Republican candidate Matt Day.

Also the race between Republican candidate Chuck Hand and Democratic candidate Tremaine “Teddy” Reese for the State Senate District 15 seat is of special interest to voters.

Incumbent Democratic candidate Debbie Buckner will see opposition from write-in candidate Stephen Acorn in her bid for re-election to the State House of Representatives District 137 seat.

Also on the ballot are the following Constitutional Amendments:

Amendment 1: Shall the Constitution of Georgia, for the purpose of protecting family farmland, be amended so as to increase the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres?”

Summary: This proposal increases the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres. It amends Article VII, Section I, Paragraph III of the Georgia Constitution, relating to uniformity, classification of property, assessment of agricultural land, and utilities, by revising subparagraph (e)(1).A copy of this entire proposed constitutional amendment is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court and is available for public inspection.

Amendment 2: Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to require that all probate court judges be elected in nonpartisan elections?”

Summary: This proposal provides that all probate judges shall be elected in nonpartisan elections.  It amends Article VI, Section VII, Paragraph I of the Georgia Constitution, relating to selection and term of office of judges, by revising subparagraph (a).A copy of this entire proposed constitutional amendment is on file in the office of the judge of the probate court and is available for public inspection.

Amendment 3: Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to dedicate certain existing revenues, including revenues reallocated by law, to a nonlapsing fund to be used exclusively for the expansion, maintenance, and operation of emergency 9-1-1 systems in this state?”

Summary: This proposal authorizes the General Assembly to provide by general law for the creation of the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund. It amends Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI of the Georgia Constitution, relating to appropriations to be for specific sums, by adding a new subparagraph (s).