Voter turnout has been below 10 percent today at some precincts in Richmond County’s District 5, where an Augusta Commission and school board race are on the ballot.

“That’s sad, isn’t it?” said Janice Bailey, who cast her ballot in early voting but was at the Henry Brigham Community Center precinct today.

Poll workers at the precinct on Golden Camp Road said only 175 out of 3,473 registered voters had shown up as of 2:45 p.m. At Burns Memorial United Methodist Church, off Lumpkin Road, just 92 voters had shown by 3 p.m. The Burns location is serving as a fill-in precinct for Shiloh Baptist Church, off Windsor Spring Road, because Shiloh is in the middle of renovation work. Burns is in District 6, but no District 6 races are on today's ballot.

Flo and Bob Morris were among those who showed up at Henry Brigham today. They were told they needed to vote at Trinity United Methodist Church. Before leaving for Trinity, the Augusta couple, who live in District 5, said they were leaning toward voting for Patsy Scott in the school board race and Bobby Hankerson for the commission seat.

“We want Bobby back,” Mr. Morris said.

Mr. Hankerson is going up against William "Bill" Lockett. Mrs. Scott, the widow of District 5 school board member Joe Scott, is running against James Williams Jr. and Aishia Leverette.

Susie Perry, who cast her vote at Burns this afternoon, said she favored Mrs. Scott for the school board race.

“I think she would be a good candidate. She would continue on his legacy,” she said.

Ms. Perry said she also found it "very sad" that few people were turning out.

“I think everyone should come out and vote,” she said.

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 828-0851 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com