Georgia ballot loaded with candidates no longer running

As Georgia voters go to the polls Tuesday, more than half of the names on the presidential preference primary are no longer in the race.

The Secretary of State did not authorize changes in the ballot, which is printed weeks in advance, said Jeanetta Watson, supervisor of the Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections.

"I hate it because if they vote for any of the candidates who have withdrawn, it's just a wasted vote," Watson said Monday morning.

Poll workers are not allowed to inform voters about those who have dropped out, but people may call the Secretary of State's Office before going to vote, she said, or check websites.

Of the four Democrats on the ballot, Martin O'Malley has suspended his campaign. People may not be familiar with Democrat Michael Steinberg, who is only on the ballot in Georgia and four other states.

There are 13 names on the Republican ballot, but Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, George Pataki, Rand Paul and Rick Santorum are no longer running.

If voters have questions about candidates, Watson encourages them to hit the Internet to make up their mind before going to their precinct.

"Google the candidate's name and contact their campaign committee," Watson said.

Voters must bring a photo I.D. card. If they are not sure where to vote, they can call the board of elections at 621-6622.

Over the past three weeks, 4514 people showed up for early voting in Macon-Bibb County and all but three of them successfully cast ballots.

Democrats outnumbered Republicans by two-thirds with 3075 Democrats voting, or 68 percent. The GOP drew 32 percent of early voters, as 1436 votes were cast.

When asked about projected turnout on election day, Watson said there have been too many variables since 2008, the last time there was no incumbent president on the ballot.

When Barack Obama first ran eight years ago, Georgia had advance voting one week before election day, and it was only open for those who could not cast ballots that Tuesday.

Four years ago, early voting was open to everyone for 45 days prior to the election.

This year, there have been 21 early voting days.

"We just don't know how to estimate turnout," Watson said. "You have diehard people who only want to go to the polls."

Weather should not be a factor as mostly sunny skies are forecast for much of Tuesday with temperatures ranging from the upper 40s in the morning to low 70s for a high.

There's a slight chance of showers after 5 p.m., increasing to about 50 Percent after polls close at 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Rain or shine, Poll Manager Gail Jones and her assistant, Patricia Johnson will be at the Vineville 3 precinct.

"We do have fun," Johnson said Monday morning as they picked up their boxes of election materials.

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303 and follow her on Twitter@liz_lines.

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 1:52 PM with the headline "Georgia ballot loaded with candidates no longer running ."