On Nov. 2, Gwen Williams won't have time to cast her ballot.
|
ADVERTISEMENT
|
|
|
Have a thought?
Go to the Forums or Chat.
|
|
|
|
Guesner Cannon (left) votes at the community center. Many casting votes were hoping to avoid Election Day crowds.
Chris Thelen/Staff
|
|
That's why Ms. Williams waited in a long line Wednesday to participate in advance voting at the Henry H. Brigham Community Center.
"I knew it was going to be murder," Ms. Williams said, speaking of the projected Election Day crowds. "I have a little time today so I thought I'd come out here and get it done."
The neck-and-neck presidential race was the ballot's main draw for Ms. Williams, a 41-year-old state employee. Electing presidential challenger John Kerry might get her a well-deserved raise, she said.
"I'm just casting my vote and hoping it will make a difference," said Ms. Williams. "I know it will make a difference."
Judging from the public's high turnout for advance and absentee voting, interest in the election is big, said Lynn Bailey, the executive director of the Richmond County Board of Elections.
Ms. Bailey credits not only the presidential race, but also the sales tax referendum and several state Senate and congressional elections, with attracting voters in droves.
"There are so many races for people to be passionate about on this ballot," Ms. Bailey said.
The success of advance voting, which began Monday and runs until 6 p.m. Friday, and an increased issuance of absentee ballots have the Board of Elections expecting a 75 percent voter turnout in Richmond County, a slight increase over the state's average of 73 percent, she said.
"The advance voting is just going gangbusters," Ms. Bailey said. "All three sites are slammed all day from the minute they open to the minute they close."
Of Richmond County's 88,113 registered voters, more than 5,000 cast their ballots through advance voting Monday and Tuesday and 2,000 more are expected to vote each day the rest of the week, she said.
The Board of Elections office has mailed out more than 6,000 absentee ballots and over the past two days, issued 3,800 absentee ballots to voters at the downtown office, she continued.
"It's very obvious to me there's a lot of interest," Ms. Bailey said.
On the advice of the Richmond County court system, Wilbur G. Morgan, 66, waited in line at the Henry H. Brigham Community Center to participate in advance voting.
Mr. Morgan has jury duty the entire week beginning Nov. 1 and said he wanted to make sure he voted against the sales tax referendum.
At the Board of Elections office inside the municipal building on Greene Street, June Fouche, 70, said she tried to beat the crowds of Election Day, but ending up waiting in line anyway.
All the races appealed to her, Mrs. Fouche said, adding that young voters might be behind high voter interest in the election.
"I think a lot of the young people are catching on and they want to voice their opinions," Mrs. Fouche said.
Near Mrs. Fouche stood Andrea Smith, 31, who also hoped to beat the crowds Nov. 2.
The presidential election is most important to her because "all we've had is bad luck" with President Bush in the White House, she said.
Monday is the last day people can vote through absentee ballots at the Board of Elections downtown office, Ms. Bailey said.
Reach Kate Lewis at (706) 823-3215 or kate.lewis@augustachronicle.com.
CAST YOUR VOTE
Advance voting continues through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at three Richmond County locations: the Board of Elections' downtown office, the Warren Road Community Center on Warren Road and the Henry H. Brigham Community Center on Golden Camp Road. For more information on absentee or advance voting, call the Richmond County Board of Elections at 821-2340; visit 530 Greene St., Room 104, or log on to www.augustaga.gov.
