Turnout has been light halfway through the early voting period for Richmond County elections, said Lynn Bailey, the Board of Elections executive director.
Just 141 people had voted through Friday, said Mrs. Bailey, who predicts about a 20 percent turnout.
"It's just been really slow," she said. "There hasn't been a whole lot of foot traffic at all."
The first day of early voting on Oct. 5 saw 23 voters cast ballots, and the busiest day had 25 voters, Mrs. Bailey said. The turnout is normal for an election without any state or national races, she added.
Last year's presidential race brought out about 80,000 voters in Richmond County.
Voting will continue through Oct. 30 for the Nov. 3 election. Registered voters can cast ballots weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Board of Elections office at 530 Greene St.
Two additional polling sites will open the final week of early voting at Henry Brigham Recreation Center at 2463 Golden Camp Road and Warren Road Recreation Center at 300 Warren Road. The three sites will have extended hours and be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 26-30.
The ballot includes three contested Augusta Commission races in Districts 1, 3 and 5 and a special election for the District 5 Richmond County Board of Education seat.
Mrs. Bailey said voters can call the Board of Elections office at (706) 821-2340 to learn which district they reside in. Voters must present one of six approved forms of identification to vote in person.
No irregularities or problems with voting machines have been reported so far, Mrs. Bailey said.
Reach Erin Zureick at (706) 823-3217 or erin.zureick@augustachronicle.com.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE
Richmond County voters will pick three Augusta commissioners and fill one board of education seat in the Nov. 3 election. Early voting ends Oct. 30.
AUGUSTA COMMISSION
DISTRICT 1: Four candidates are running for the seat vacated by Betty Beard: Bill Fennoy, Matt Aitken, JoRae Jenkins and James "Butch" Palmer. The district includes downtown, the Medical College of Georgia, East Augusta, Laney-Walker, Harrisburg and Sand Hills.
DISTRICT 3: Incumbent Joe Bowles faces opposition from Joy B. Mitchell-Booker and Cleveland O'Steen. The district covers Summerville and parts of west Augusta, including Augusta Mall.
DISTRICT 5: Bobby Hankerson and Bill Lockett are vying for the seat vacated by Calvin Holland. The district includes parts of south Augusta, including the old Regency Mall site.
RICHMOND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION DISTRICT 5: Three candidates are running for the seat vacated by the death of Joe Scott, including Mr. Scott's widow, Patsy, and Aishia Leverett and James Williams Jr.
-- From staff reports
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Commission District 1
Commission District 3
Commission District 5
RCBOE District 5
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