Early voting turnout mostly lackluster across midstate

Early voting ends on Friday, and midstate election officials are reporting anemic turnout, even in cities with several races on the ballot.

In Forsyth, just 367 people have voted early in an election that includes a mayoral race between former Councilman Eric Wilson and incumbent Mayor John T. Howard II, as well as three City Council races.

"I think we're about in the range we were last city election," said Monroe County Deputy Registrar April Dumas, adding that 361 people voted early in the 2013 election, which included only council races.

Early voting ends Friday. In Forsyth, it will run till 4:30 p.m.

In Warner Robins, more than 570 people have voted early in an election that includes three City Council races.

"Obviously, if it was a mayoral race, there would have been a lot more" early voters, Warner Robins Elections Superintendent Michelle Riley said. "I would have hoped that with the at-large post that it would have pulled more turnout, but it doesn't look like that will be the case."

More than 2,600 people voted early in the city's last election in 2013, which included a mayoral race and four council races.

In Macon-Bibb County, the lone education penny sales tax proposal on the ballot drew just 97 voters to the polls Thursday, but that was far and away the best daily turnout during the 14 days of early voting.

"We really didn't know what to expect because this was an off election," said Charlene Maynard, administrative assistant for the Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections. "We would have liked to had a better turnout."

All told, 828 voters have cast ballots so far.

With voter approval, an education special purpose sales tax, known as E-SPLOST, would continue to be collected for education-related projects over the next five years.

Maynard said this year's turnout is less than it was when voters approved the E-SPLOST in 2009.

"Based on this turnout, it appears (Tuesday) will be slow, but we're hopeful that there will be a good number of voters to turn out at the precincts," she said.

Early voting ends in Macon-Bibb County at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

In Milledgeville and Baldwin County, 2,563 people have voted early in an election that will decide whether city-county lines will be erased to form a new consolidated government. The other item on the ballot is an E-SPLOST referendum.

"We're bookin'," Baldwin County Deputy Chief Registrar Liz Rodgers said. "It's a pleasant, pleasant turnout. ... I believe there's a lot of interest in the consolidation or the E-SPLOST, one or the other."

The last day of early voting there begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Friday.

In Fort Valley, 353 people have voted early in an election that features three City Council races, said interim Elections Supervisor Marsha Gosier. Polls are open in Fort Valley from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday.

Those voting across Middle Georgia on Tuesday will have to cast their ballot at their assigned precinct between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 and follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 6:20 PM with the headline "Early voting turnout mostly lackluster across midstate ."