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Voters cast runoff ballots Tuesday
By Chris McCaa Staff Writer
Rabun County residents have another opportunity to make their voices heard at the ballot box before the general election in November.
A runoff for three offices, two Democratic and one Republican, is being held Aug. 5.
Two Democratic candidates are facing off for the office of Rabun County Tax Commissioner.
Sandy Smith, who took 48 percent of the 2,158 Democratic votes in the July 15 primary, will once again face David Parker. Parker garnered 40 percent.
Smith appealed to potential voters.
"I just want to encourage everyone who hasn't come out to vote to please vote because their vote is very important to the future of this office," Smith said.
She said the support she received in the primary was not forgotten.
"I feel honored with the trust people have shown in me with 48 percent (of the vote) and the lead in the primary," Smith said.
Smith's opponent David Parker spoke highly of Smith.
"I've got a good tough opponent," Parker said.
He said he hoped to see a high voter turnout for the runoff.
"That's a concern trying to get the voters that voted in the primary to come back Aug. 5 and vote," Parker said.
In addition to the Democratic race for tax commissioner, the 50th District seat in the Georgia Senate will also be decided by a runoff between Republicans Nancy Schaefer and Jim Butterworth.
Democratic candidates Vernon Jones and Jim Martin are competing for the opportunity to face off against Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Rabun County Elections Supervisor Tammy Whitmire said early voting began Monday and would continue 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Friday.
"Friday is the last day they can do that, or else they have to come out to the civic center the day of the election from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.," Whitmire said.
Poll officer Corry Purcell said turnout on the first day of early voting was higher than expected.
"They were projecting a 35 percent turnout (for the runoff), and we'll do well above that," Purcell said.
Bryan Suttles of Clayton said her voting experience in the runoff went smoothly.
"It was a snap," Suttles said. "I came today because I'll be out of town, but I wanted to make sure I voted."
Whitmire said registered voters who did not vote in the primary could cast their ballot without party limitations.
"You can vote even if you didn't vote in the primary, and you can vote either ticket," Whitmire said.
Whitmire said residents who voted in the July 15 primary had to adhere to stricter regulations. "If they voted in the primary, they have to vote the same ticket," she said.
Whitmire said it was too late for unregistered voters to participate in the runoff, but they could still become eligible to vote in the general election.
"After the runoff, voting registration will begin again for the November election," Whitmire said. "The last day to register for the general election is Oct. 6."
She said the county elections office was hard at work preparing for the runoff.
"You have to test all the voting machines again," Whitmire said. "You just have a shorter time to complete it."
A runoff for three offices, two Democratic and one Republican, is being held Aug. 5.
Two Democratic candidates are facing off for the office of Rabun County Tax Commissioner.
Sandy Smith, who took 48 percent of the 2,158 Democratic votes in the July 15 primary, will once again face David Parker. Parker garnered 40 percent.
Smith appealed to potential voters.
"I just want to encourage everyone who hasn't come out to vote to please vote because their vote is very important to the future of this office," Smith said.
She said the support she received in the primary was not forgotten.
"I feel honored with the trust people have shown in me with 48 percent (of the vote) and the lead in the primary," Smith said.
Smith's opponent David Parker spoke highly of Smith.
"I've got a good tough opponent," Parker said.
He said he hoped to see a high voter turnout for the runoff.
"That's a concern trying to get the voters that voted in the primary to come back Aug. 5 and vote," Parker said.
In addition to the Democratic race for tax commissioner, the 50th District seat in the Georgia Senate will also be decided by a runoff between Republicans Nancy Schaefer and Jim Butterworth.
Democratic candidates Vernon Jones and Jim Martin are competing for the opportunity to face off against Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Rabun County Elections Supervisor Tammy Whitmire said early voting began Monday and would continue 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Friday.
"Friday is the last day they can do that, or else they have to come out to the civic center the day of the election from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.," Whitmire said.
Poll officer Corry Purcell said turnout on the first day of early voting was higher than expected.
"They were projecting a 35 percent turnout (for the runoff), and we'll do well above that," Purcell said.
Bryan Suttles of Clayton said her voting experience in the runoff went smoothly.
"It was a snap," Suttles said. "I came today because I'll be out of town, but I wanted to make sure I voted."
Whitmire said registered voters who did not vote in the primary could cast their ballot without party limitations.
"You can vote even if you didn't vote in the primary, and you can vote either ticket," Whitmire said.
Whitmire said residents who voted in the July 15 primary had to adhere to stricter regulations. "If they voted in the primary, they have to vote the same ticket," she said.
Whitmire said it was too late for unregistered voters to participate in the runoff, but they could still become eligible to vote in the general election.
"After the runoff, voting registration will begin again for the November election," Whitmire said. "The last day to register for the general election is Oct. 6."
She said the county elections office was hard at work preparing for the runoff.
"You have to test all the voting machines again," Whitmire said. "You just have a shorter time to complete it."
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