More than 43 percent of Barrow County’s 33,885 registered voters cast ballots ahead of Tuesday’s 2008 general election.
A total of 13,828 residents took advantage of the 45 days of early voting that ended Friday at 7 p.m.
Early voters throughout the day Friday filled nearly all of the seats in the Board of Commissioners meeting room.
Final votes to be cast Tuesday; over 40% already voted in Barrow
Barrow County voters will decide three local contested races Tuesday as well as voice their opinions in the down-to-wire presidential campaign between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.
For sample ballot, click here.
Contested local races include battles for sheriff, a seat on the county commission, and the chief magistrate.
In the race for sheriff, Republican Jud Smith faces Democrat Jim Bonnemer. Smith won the Republican nomination this summer against Murray Kogod, while Bonnemer was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
In the District 3 County Commission contest, Republican Steve Worley, who defeated Tom Williamson in the primary, faces Democratic incumbent Bill Healan.
Chief Magistrate incumbent, Republican June Davis, will face Democrat Johnny C. Smith.
All other Barrow County races are uncontested.
There is also a contested race for the State Senate for the 47th District, a district that includes Barrow County. Republican incumbent Ralph Hudgens is being challenged by Democrat Tim Riley.
EARLY VOTING
“This is the first election where early voting – when people could vote early with no excuse – has been available 45 days, because we knew there was going to be such a large turnout,” said Barrow County Election Supervisor Kristi Royston.
“The most we had done prior to this in a week of advance voting was for the general election in 2004. That week, we did 3,838,” Royston said.
During the extended period of early voting through Oct. 24, a total of 7,155 local residents cast ballots on electronic voting machines at the Barrow County Administration Building. During the past five days – the traditional "advance" voting period – another 6,673 voters cast ballots.
Friday's voter turnout was the briskest. Troy Williams of Winder was the last of the day's 1,688 voters to walk through the doors. He arrived just minutes before voting ended.
“My wife suggested it,” he said. “We drove by the building and she said, ‘You need to come back by here.’ I just made it!”
The Barrow County Board of Elections and Registration as of Oct. 24 also had received 845 absentee ballots; additional absentee ballots arriving this past week had not been counted as of Friday evening.
While early voters in some metro Atlanta counties stood in line for hours this week, the accommodations in the Barrow County Board of Commissioners meeting room were much more voter-friendly. Voters sat in comfortable seats while waiting for their names to be called to pick up their electronic voting machine cards. Wait times typically were under an hour, even when the line at times snaked outside the meeting room and into the hallway, according to election officials.
“I think it’s been great for the voters, and it has got to help the people who are going to participate on Election Day," Royston said. "People should expect to wait on Election Day because there will be such a large turnout.”
For sample ballot, click here.
Contested local races include battles for sheriff, a seat on the county commission, and the chief magistrate.
In the race for sheriff, Republican Jud Smith faces Democrat Jim Bonnemer. Smith won the Republican nomination this summer against Murray Kogod, while Bonnemer was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
In the District 3 County Commission contest, Republican Steve Worley, who defeated Tom Williamson in the primary, faces Democratic incumbent Bill Healan.
Chief Magistrate incumbent, Republican June Davis, will face Democrat Johnny C. Smith.
All other Barrow County races are uncontested.
There is also a contested race for the State Senate for the 47th District, a district that includes Barrow County. Republican incumbent Ralph Hudgens is being challenged by Democrat Tim Riley.
EARLY VOTING
“This is the first election where early voting – when people could vote early with no excuse – has been available 45 days, because we knew there was going to be such a large turnout,” said Barrow County Election Supervisor Kristi Royston.
“The most we had done prior to this in a week of advance voting was for the general election in 2004. That week, we did 3,838,” Royston said.
During the extended period of early voting through Oct. 24, a total of 7,155 local residents cast ballots on electronic voting machines at the Barrow County Administration Building. During the past five days – the traditional "advance" voting period – another 6,673 voters cast ballots.
Friday's voter turnout was the briskest. Troy Williams of Winder was the last of the day's 1,688 voters to walk through the doors. He arrived just minutes before voting ended.
“My wife suggested it,” he said. “We drove by the building and she said, ‘You need to come back by here.’ I just made it!”
The Barrow County Board of Elections and Registration as of Oct. 24 also had received 845 absentee ballots; additional absentee ballots arriving this past week had not been counted as of Friday evening.
While early voters in some metro Atlanta counties stood in line for hours this week, the accommodations in the Barrow County Board of Commissioners meeting room were much more voter-friendly. Voters sat in comfortable seats while waiting for their names to be called to pick up their electronic voting machine cards. Wait times typically were under an hour, even when the line at times snaked outside the meeting room and into the hallway, according to election officials.
“I think it’s been great for the voters, and it has got to help the people who are going to participate on Election Day," Royston said. "People should expect to wait on Election Day because there will be such a large turnout.”
Given the higher than normal turn out this time around, in early voting, it appears that the citizens of Barrow County are showing that they care about what direction our country takes over the next 4 years in Washington D.C.
Make no mistake about it folks, there are 2 VERY DIFFERENT PATHS OFFERED by the Presidential Candidates.
First, we have the Socialist leaning left-wing media created Democratic nominee, Senator Obama. He has been described by those in his own party as being the most left-wing liberal candidate for President in the history of our country. He proposes Universal Health care, at a cost to the taxpayers in the billions of dollars, while neglecting to mention anything of how he intends to deal with Social Security and Medicare which millions of senior citizens depend on for there very existence! He intends to tax anyone who earns $250K or more, and "redistribute the wealth" without any regard to legislative review! He intends to dishonor our military, by pulling out of Iraq, before the job is done. He calls our troops "Indiscriminate killers of people and villages", then expects their support to get him elected!
His political and personal associations with radical pastors,( Rev. Wright " God D*M America") and known terrorist William Ayers," Guilty as sin, free as a bird, what a great country". He has remained unrepentant for the bombings and deaths of innocent civilians. His idea to negotiate with radical countries like Iran, who harbor and train terrorists to kill Americans, and whose only reason for existence is to burn America to the ground! Called inexperienced, and not ready to be President by his own running mate, Joe Biden!! His vote to deny health care to babies who survive a botched abortions, and are alive outside of the womb, while granting illegal immigrants welfare, social security, and a drivers license while they steal jobs from from the citizens of this country right from under our noses! Add to that, his plan to censor the free speech protected by the Constitution of the United States of conservative talk radio shows!! This is the path you can expect if you vote for Mr. OBama.
On the other hand Senator John McCain has a platform that protects America and her citizens from the disease of Socialism offered by Obama. He will protect Social Security and Medicare, for future generations, he will reduce spending in Washington,to save taxpayers money, while fighting to reduce and eliminate the flow of illegal aliens into this country. He will advance the cause of health care reform by putting health related decisions back in the hands of doctors and patients, not insurance companies. He will contain greed on Wall Street, and hold top executives accountable in the event of fraud. Further, John McCain will honor our troops by giving them his full support at all times. He will protect the rights of unborn children. In essence, John McCain is the right man, at the right time, in the right place to keep America strong now and in the future. If you have not yet voted, I urge you to vote for John McCain for President of the United States of America. He will keep America strong!!
DuWayne R. Anderson
Winder, GA
You need to get on board the Bob Barr Express. No support of the bailout which robs taxpayers of billions upon billions of their hard-earned dollars.
McCain offers nothing new. Same old rhetoric from the Republicans. Join in the Libertarian Party movement! A true vote for change!
Matt Brock
DuWayne R. Anderson
Winder, GA
A vote for Bob Barr is NOT a vote for Obama. It is a vote for Bob Barr. Don't throw your vote away on McCain. He's not going to win.
Don't vote for the lesser of two evils. Vote for the best candidate and that is Bob Barr.
I may not agree with his policies, but I can at least respect that he works to change it rather than blowing every spotlight opportunity by whining about it.
I voted for Obama because of his policies and background, but I would have gone with Barr if the Democratic and Republican fields had been as weak as in previous cycles.
DuWayne R. Anderson
What policies and WHAT back ground? The guy has no experience what so ever! Quit drinking the Kool aide. Do you want a welfare check from the government. I was brought up to believe that if you could afford it you didn't ask the government for a check, you cut back on the unessentials period. I personally can't believe that these are the two best candidates that we could come up with, but a vote for Bob Barr IS taking away from McCain. Don't make me say I told you so. Do what is right for your country not your personal beliefs.
Watch closely over the next 4 years, and you'll see why tens of millions of people voted for him. :)
#1: Passed up a job making big money on wall street to work on improving lives in Chicago suburbs devastated by a steel plant closing (http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070416/moberg).
#2: Supports a more open government, and has come through in part with the Obama-Coburn bill (the bill that created http://www.usaspending.gov/).
#3: Taught constitutional law (and was good at it: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/701490,CST-NWS-obamaprof18.article).
#4: Picked the person responsible for the Violence Against Women Act (http://biden.senate.gov/issues/issue/?id=975b0cf4-ce25-42cc-b63d-072fb81e8618) as his vice president. There's a long list on Biden too, but I'll refrain for now.
#5: Gracious in victory (http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/speeches/obama-victory-speech.html) and defeat (check youtube for any of his primary election concession speeches). Humility is an important trait given the power of the position.
Was impressed with him then. Am impressed with him now.