Elections to be held together

The special election to replace the late Georgia Rep. Henry L. Howard will be held on Election Day after all.

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Gov. Sonny Perdue issued the writ calling for the special election in House District 121 only a day after Mr. Howard's death from a heart attack. That will allow election officials to meet all the legal deadlines to hold that election Nov. 8 along with the municipal elections, said Lynn Bailey, the executive director of the Augusta-Richmond County Board of Elections. Qualifying for that office will begin Tuesday and close at noon Oct. 13, which will just allow election officials time to send the names to the printer and get absentee ballots back by the legal deadline, which is Oct. 17, Ms. Bailey said.

"And that was our biggest concern all along is that we would not be able to get the printing turned around in a quick enough time," she said. "So that's good news for the voters here. It will be on the ballot in November, when we expect a very heavy turnout. This way, if there is a runoff, it can be held at the same time as the other runoff on Dec. 6, if there is one. It will save us some money as well."

The recent special election to fill the Georgia Senate District 22 seat won by Ed Tarver cost about $85,000, although that involved 63 of 72 precincts and the House district only covers 17 precincts, Ms. Bailey said.

"Nevertheless, it's still a savings," she said. The deadline for registering to vote in the special election will also be the same as the municipal elections, on Tuesday.

Services for Mr. Howard will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, 1714 Olive Road. The Rev. Karlton Howard, Mr. Howard's son, will officiate. Friends may call the home or W.H. Mays Mortuary, 1221 James Brown Blvd.

Reach Tom Corwin at (706) 823-3213 or tom.corwin@augustachronicle.com.