Counties see higher turnout

Tuesday's presidential choice was historic, and local voting appears to be a record.

Richmond County had more people vote than ever before, said Lynn Bailey, the executive director of the Richmond County Board of Elections.

"It is a record turnout in terms of the number of people voting," she said Wednesday, although she said the county has had larger percentages. "It was close to 80,000 people. We still have valid provisional ballots and any outstanding military ballots to add in."

The tally of about 450 provisional ballots and a number of military ballots won't be completed until later in the week, she said.

Aiken County also recorded a likely record, officials there said, with 70,254 voters casting ballots. That's almost 77 percent of the 91,254 eligible to participate, said Cynthia Holland, the assistant director of the county's Department of Registration & Elections.

"We've never heard of that many before," she said.

Columbia County also had high voter turnout, but it wasn't enough to set a record, according to Nancy Gay, the registration coordinator with the county Board of Elections. The total turnout -- 76.82 percent -- was high, but still less than the 82.7 percent turnout recorded in the presidential election four years ago, she said.

Barack Obama and John McCain were selected on most ballots, with Richmond County heavily supporting Mr. Obama (65.56 percent) and Columbia County solidly in the McCain court (70.9 percent).

But a handful of write-in choices made the list in Richmond County.

God, for example, received four votes, compared with just one apiece for Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Bugs Bunny.

Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, a Green Party candidate, received three write-in votes in Augusta -- the same number cast for Jesus Christ.

In all, more than 260 write-in ballots were cast in Richmond and Columbia counties, with some notable names getting the highest totals.

Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin got 31 votes, compared with 26 for Ron Paul, 17 for consumer activist Ralph Nader and 14 for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Columbia County's write-ins had a few more notables -- Bill Cosby, Chuck Norris, Dolly Parton, Santa Claus and Adolph Hitler -- each receiving one vote.

Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.