Mayoral race buried deep on ballot

Web posted November 1, 1998

By Tom Corwin
Staff Writer

The first thing on the mind of Augusta voters will actually be the last thing they see.

Because of state law, the Augusta mayoral race is actually the last page of the 12-page ballot Tuesday, and election officials are urging voters to be prepared to wade through to get to it.

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``It will follow all the constitutional amendments and the unopposed judges' races,'' said Lynn Bailey, executive director of the Richmond County Board of Elections. ``That's the part where people stop voting.''

That setup was blamed for a slightly lower turnout in the July elections for Richmond County probate court judge. This time, election officials are trying to make sure people follow the arrows on the ballot and go all the way through, Mrs. Bailey said.

``They need to be prepared more so than ever when they step into the ballot box,'' Mrs. Bailey said.

Aiken County officials are also urging voters to read ahead, particularly on the four constitutional amendments on the South Carolina ballot, so that they can get done in the five-minute time limit election officials ask them to observe, said Denton Johnson, executive director of Aiken County's election office. Aiken voters will also face a 12-page ballot, Mr. Johnson said.

``Get educated before you go in there,'' Mr. Johnson said.

Though many people got used to it earlier this year, some Georgia voters will face for the first time having to present a form of identification at the polls. A photo identification is not required and, ironically, a voter registration form is not one of the 14 pieces of identification that are allowed, said Chris Riggall, spokesman for the Georgia Secretary of State's office. Those range from a driver's license or birth certificate to a Georgia hunting license.

Staying at home on Election Day will still let you follow the vote tally in Richmond and Columbia counties. Richmond County will be posting precinctresults on its Web site at www.co.richmond.ga.us. Columbia County results will be posted at www.scescape.net/ccboc.

Tom Corwin can be reached at (706) 823-3213 or newsroom@augustachronicle.com.