Georgia Peanut Poll at national fair seeks preferences on presidential contenders

You can have your Gallup, Ipsos or Rasmussen polls if you like. At the Georgia National Fair, peanuts rule.

During the fair’s run, visitors will get to pick their preference for presidential nominees through the Georgia Peanut Poll.

Inside the Georgian Grown building, there will be one Mason jar for each Republican and Democratic candidate, as well as one marked “undecided.” Voters will get one peanut to put in the jar of the candidate of their choice, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp. The booth will close each day at 7 p.m.

The first day of voting drew interest, especially for Republican candidates.

“It was more because I didn’t like any of the other choices,” Randy Clarke, 49, a self-employed handyman from Loganville, said after he plopped his peanut in the jar for Donald Trump. “What the hell.”

Ed Wiggley, 75, of Snellville, also plunked his peanut into Trump’s jar.

“I’m tired of the mess that’s in there,” he said.

Martha Peavy, 85, of Byromville, tossed her peanut in the Ted Cruz jar.

“I just like him,” she explained.

Meanwhile, 86-year-old Perry resident Olen Allen also put his peanut in the same jar. But he said he’s really undecided at this point.

At 5 p.m. each day, the results of the day’s votes will be announced, as well as updates on the overall count. Votes cast after 5 p.m. will go toward the next day’s tally.

The South continues to flex its political muscle, which will include an early voting blitz by several Southern states that Kemp has dubbed the “SEC Primary” after the college athletic conference.

“With the SEC Primary coming on March 1, Georgia voters’ voice in picking our presidential nominees will speak louder than it has in decades, and this Peanut Poll provides a fun practice round,” Kemp said in a release. “We would like to see candidates come vote for themselves and for the campaigns to encourage their Georgia supporters to visit our booth. It’s a great way for campaigns to show they’re gaining steam in Georgia.”

Georgians can keep track of the tallies through social media (@BrianKempGA on Twitter and on his Facebook page), and voters are encouraged to post pictures of themselves voting, using the hashtags #GAPeanutPoll and #SECPrimary.

Voting will continue until the fair closes Oct. 18.

Staff writer Becky Purser contributed to this report.

This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Georgia Peanut Poll at national fair seeks preferences on presidential contenders ."