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Melvin Roberts Jr. (from left) and Lurene Johnson of Augusta fill out absentee ballot registration forms for the mayoral runoff in front of deputy registrar Shirley Thomas at the Board of Elections offices while other voters wait in line.
ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER/STAFF |
With ballots still arriving in the mail and a steady stream of voters heading into the Richmond County Board of Elections offices Monday, Tuesday's mayoral election could be one for the record books.
Because of an expected high turnout and two highly competitive candidates, every vote is going to count, according to a local political pundit.
Tuesday's runoff - the second between Mayor Bob Young and challenger Ed McIntyre - is expected to be close. Four years ago, the two men faced each other in a mayoral runoff, which Mr. Young won with 55 percent of the vote.
If absentee ballots are any indication of turnout - and experts say they are - voters will show up at the polls in droves today.
"I don't ever remember a time of issuing more absentee ballots in a runoff than in an original election," said Lynn Bailey, the executive director of the Richmond County Board of Elections.
As of 5 p.m. Monday, the elections office said it had issued nearly 5,500 absentee ballots, compared with 5,200 issued in the Nov. 5 general election and 5,961 for the 2000 presidential election.
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Absentee voter James Bryant of Augusta slides his absentee ballot into the ballot box on Monday afternoon.
ANDREW DAVIS TUCKER/STAFF |
Turnout Nov. 5 was 60 percent, and turnout today could be even higher, officials report.
Clear skies and unseasonably warm weather could boost the number of voters. Weather for the general election was rainy and cold.
"It's going to be a close election," said Ralph Walker, a professor emeritus of political science at Augusta State University.
"There's a lot of interest. Four years ago we had higher turnout in the runoff than the general - that just doesn't happen, but it did," Dr. Walker said. "I think we're going to see a big turnout (today) too, which means it could be a late night."
TO VOTE
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Voters who did not cast ballots in the general election are still eligible to vote.
ED MCINTYRE
AGE: 70
OCCUPATION: Community activist and retired real estate agent, insurance executive and teacher
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Richmond County Board of Commissioners, 1970-78, chairman 1977-78; mayor of Augusta, 1982-84; ran unsuccessfully in Democratic primary for Senate District 22, 1988; ran unsuccessfully for mayor, 1990 and 1998
FAMILY: Wife, Juanita; two sons and one daughter
EDUCATION: Morehouse College, bachelor of arts; attended Paine College, Fort Valley State College, Augusta State University; graduate work at Atlanta University and Columbia University
AGE: 55
OCCUPATION: Former news anchorman for WJBF-TV (Channel 6)
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Currently serving first term as mayor of Augusta
FAMILY: Wife, Gwen Fulcher Young
EDUCATION: Attended Wofford College and Augusta College
Reach Heidi Coryell Williams at (706) 823-3215 or heidi.williams@augustachronicle.com.
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