TIFTON —
Citizens are encouraged to vote this 2012 election, and now that early voting has begun, this gives locals an early start before Election Day on Nov. 6.
Early voting started Monday and will continue through Friday, Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday-Friday) at the old gym on the corner of Fourth Street and Chestnut Avenue. Voters will also have a chance to vote Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Elections Supervisor Jean Edwards said when coming to the polls, voters will only need to bring a picture ID that’s been issued by the government.
On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6, citizens will need to go to their precinct to vote; there are 12 precincts in Tift County. The polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
As of 3:40 p.m. Monday, Edwards said approximately 225 citizens had voted. She noted that 124 of those citizens voted before lunch.
Also, Edwards said as of Saturday, 324 ballots had been mailed out; 94 of them have already been returned. She stated that these ballots must be returned by Election Day.
When asked if she thinks Tift County will have a great turnout in voters, Edwards said, “We think so. We’re prepared for it.”
The following is a sample ballot:
• For President of the United States
- Mitt Romney - President
Paul Ryan - Vice President
Republican
- Barack Obama - President
Joe Biden - Vice President
(Incumbent) Democrat
- Gary Johnson - President
James P. Gray - Vice President
Libertarian
• For Public Service Commissioner (to succeed Chuck Eaton)
- Chuck Eaton
(Incumbent) Republican
- Stephen Oppenheimer
Democrat
- Brad Ploeger
Libertarian
• For Public Service Commissioner (to succeed Stan Wise)
- Stan Wise
(Incumbent) Republican
- David Staples
Libertarian
• For U.S. Representative in 113th Congress from the 8th Congressional District of Georgia
- Austin Scott
(Incumbent) Republican
• For State Senator from 7th District
- Tyler Harper
Republican
- Donald Mitchell
Democrat
• For State Senator from 13th District
- John Dickey Crosby
(Incumbent) Republican
• For State Representative in the General Assembly from 155th District
- Jay Roberts
(Incumbent) Republican
• For State Representative in the General Assembly from 170th District
- Penny Houston
(Incumbent) Republican
• For State Representative in the General Assembly from 172nd District
- Sam Watson
Republican
• For District Attorney of the Tifton Judicial Circuit
- Paul Bowden
(Incumbent) Republican
• For Judge of the Probate Court
- Suzanne Carter Johnson
(Incumbent) Republican
- Ty Taylor
Democrat
• For Clerk of Superior Court
- Gwen C. Pate
(Incumbent) Republican
• For Sheriff
- D. Gene Scarbrough
Republican
• For Tax Commissioner
- Chad Alexander
Republican
• For Coroner
- Josh Hendrix
Republican
• For Chief Magistrate
- Mark York
(Incumbent) Republican
• For County Commissioner District 2
- Melissa Hughes Chevers
(Incumbent) Democrat
• For County Commissioner District 5
- Fred W. “Buck” Rigdon Jr.
(Incumbent) Republican
• For County Commissioner District 7
- Grady Thompson
(Incumbent) Republican
• For County Board of Education District 1
- Kim Ezekiel
Democrat
• For County Board of Education District 3
- Gannon Hall
Republican
• For County Board of Education District 7
- Kim Rutland
Republican
Also, voters will be asked to vote “yes” or “no” on the following proposed constitutional amendments:
(Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options.)
- “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?”
(Allows the state to save taxpayer funds through multi-year real estate rental agreements.)
- “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide for a reduction in the state’s operating costs by allowing the General Assembly to authorize certain state agencies to enter into multi-year rental agreements?”
To contact reporter Latasha Everson, call 382-4321
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