Early Voting Underway in Meriwether

Early and Advanced voting began in Meriwether 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 Meriwether County Board of Election and Registration office located at 756 Woodbury Highway in Greenville.

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, ones that might be of the most interest to voters include the U.S. House of Representatives District 3 with Incumbent Republican Brian Jack facing Democrat Maura Keller.

Also, the race between Incumbent Republican Randy Robertson and Democrat Jeff Lowe in the race for the State Senate District 29 seat.

Incumbent David Jenkins has no opposition in his bid for re-election to the State House of Representatives District 136 seat.

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.

District 1 County Commissioner Joe Howard and District 3 Commissioner Emmett Collins are both unopposed in their bids for re-election.

Incumbent Republican Adam Worsley will see opposition from Democrat Cartersman “Kojack” Bryant in his bid for re-election to the District 5 County Commission seat.

All of the incumbent candidates for the Meriwether County Board of Education are running unopposed. The candidates include: District 1 representative Willie Hinton, Jr., District 3 representative Kay King, District 5 representative Bob M. Patterson and in a Special Election, District 4 representative Levi Flether.

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).