Low turnout expected for runoff

2010-07-27

By Martha Barksdale

Only about 28 percent of Fayette County's registered voters turned out for the July 20 general primary, even with three hotly-contested local races on the ballot. So the turnout for the Aug. 10 primary runoff, which has only three statewide races on the Republican ballot and one on the Democratic side, is expected to be miniscule.

Nonetheless, the election will be held, and early voting will begin next week at the Fayette County Board of Elections office. If you voted in the general primary, you must vote in the same party you chose then. You can vote in the runoff, even if you didn't vote in the general primary.

Heading the ballot on the GOP side is the governor's race between Karen Handel and Nathan Deal, who finished one and two statewide and also in Fayette County in the general primary.

Sam Olens and Preston Smith will be in a runoff for the Republican nomination as attorney general. In the crowded insurance commissioner's race, Ralph Hudgens and Maria Sheffield emerged as the top voter getters and will face each other Aug. 10 for the spot on the GOP ticket.

Only one race will appear on the Democratic ballot. Gail Buckner of Clayton County will meet Georganna Sinkfield for the Secretary of State spot.

The general election will be Nov. 2.

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