Rain keeps voters away from many an election, but Middle Georgians can expect dry, scorching temperatures while waiting to cast ballots Tuesday in runoff elections.
“From what we see here, it’s going to be a typical August day in the making,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Trisha Palmer. “It’s going to be cool in the morning, with temps in the 70s, but as the day progresses, that changes and it will get up into the high 90s.”
The combined heat index — actual temperature plus the surrounding heated air — puts that high near 100, Palmer said, “and that’s in the shade. Of course, it will be hotter with people standing in lines in the sun, stagnant buildings or on baking concrete.”
There’s little chance of a summer storm. And while they tend to cool things off, they don’t help voter turnout, said Macon-Bibb County Elections Supervisor Elaine Carr.
“No rain is good for us,” Carr said. “The heat isn’t great, because it can affect our elderly voters, but rain can keep people away.”
Carr expects about 13,000 of 80,045 registered voters to make the trip to 41 polling places across Bibb County, she said.
“We had a pretty good turnout in the primary, too. I think people are going to come out and vote,” Carr said.
The major state race is the Republican gubernatorial bid between Nathan Deal and Karen Handel. The winner will run against former Democrat Gov. Roy Barnes.
Middle Georgia voters have choices in five local runoff races:
n The contest for Georgia House of Representatives District 143 has Dr. Pablo Santamaria running against Mitch Warnock for the seat. The winner goes forward to in the November election to face Republican Matt Hatchett for the vacant seat, which was held by DuBose Porter for 28 years. Porter lost his gubernatorial nomination bid last month.
n The Monroe County Commission District 3 race has incumbent Mike Bilderback facing former county Tax Commissioner Patsy Miller, and the District 4 race features incumbent Jim Peters and former Commissioner Joe Proctor Sr. The runoff election will decide who holds these seats. No Democrats ran for the offices.
n In Jones County, voters will cast ballots for the school board chairman slot, with Ginger Bailey and Wally Hunter running for the Republican nomination. The winner faces Democrat Josh Lurie in November.
n The Houston County Board of Education Post 5 seat is up for grabs with Randall Hinson and Helen Hughes vying for the seat.
To contact writer Shelby G. Spires, call 744-4494.
