Early voter turnout low in Middle Georgia

Early voting has been in full swing across Middle Georgia for a week, but voters aren't exactly flocking to polling locations to cast their ballots.

In Macon, only 194 people voted Monday through Thursday, with a 1-cent sales tax for schools as the only item on the ballot. There are projects at schools across the county that would receive funding from the tax extension, but that hasn't piqued voters' interest like a mayoral or presidential election, chief registrar Veronica Seals said.

"People don't seem to be interested," she said.

Voters have until Oct. 30 to vote early.

In Perry, there is a City Council seat up for election, but just 46 people have voted this week. That didn't surprise Houston County elections technician Andy Holland.

"They're usually pretty low for no mayor on the ballot, just for City Council," he said.

More voters could be on the way if past years are any indication, said Warner Robins elections superintendent Michelle Riley. Warner Robins had seen just 214 voters by Thursday, but Riley said the three City Council posts with opposed races could draw a bigger crowd in the coming weeks.

"Normally with early voting, closer to the last week is when the numbers usually pick up," she said. "So we'll just have to wait and see."

To contact writer Jeremy Timmerman, call 744-4331 or find him on Twitter@MTJTimm.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 9:23 PM with the headline "Early voter turnout low in Middle Georgia ."