Early voting begins for runoff, general primary in Muscogee County
MUSCOGEE COUNTY, Ga. (WRBL)— Early voting is currently underway for the May primaries in Muscogee County. Early voting for a separate, special election also began for House District 139.
Special Election
Early voting began Monday, April 29 for the House District 139 seat formerly filled by Richard Smith. Columbus businessman Sean Knox and former Muscogee County Republican Party chairperson Camen Rice are in a runoff for that Special Election.
“If you are in House District 139 and you want to vote in the runoff, you will go to one section of the City Services Center,” Director of Elections for Muscogee County, Nancy Boren said. “If you would like to vote in the full, two-year term for House District 139, you can do that when you cast your ballot for the May 21 primary.”
Those wishing to vote in the runoff can do so at the City Services Center. The runoff will determine who fills the seat for the remainder of this term. Election day for this race is Tuesday, May 7.
General Primary
Early voting also opened for the general primary. This is the nominating process for the Republican and the Democratic parties and the nonpartisan election for council, school board and judges.
“You will see the two terms for the council at large. That’s councilor House’s seat before he retired for the special election, the partial term, and then for the full four-year term,” Boren explains.
She reminds people to bring their photo I.D. and shares the following advice.
“We’re suggesting that you know how you want to vote on the ballot. You know what party you would like to select. There is a long ESPLOST question for the school district, it’s a lot of reading and a lot of scrolling through some pages,” Boren said. “So, if you want to speed up your process, know how you’re going to vote in that election.”
She also tells voters to be prepared for additional questions on their ballots.
“Each of the parties have put questions on their ballots. They are opinion polls of the people who select that party ballot. The questions are different,” Boren informed. “They are non-binding and they are simply opinions. So, you’re not voting on a referendum, but you’re just basically being asked your opinion.”
Three precincts are open for the general primary including Columbus Technical College, the City Services Center, and the Shirley Winston Recreation Center. Precincts are open seven days a week during early voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting ends May 18, Election Day is May 21.
Boren has high hopes for voter turnout as more than 100 people cast their ballot before 9 a.m. on the first day of early voting.
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