Avoid long lines — vote early

Georgia joins approximately 23 other states that offer their citizens the opportunity to cast ballots 45 days before the election.

Georgia voters can cast ballots in-person and Early County voters are able to vote at the Voter Registrar's office on River Street in Blakely.

Secretary of State Karen Handel worked with the Georgia General Assembly to change the law to allow voters to cast ballots 45 days prior to an election, either by mail or in person without providing a reason.

"Georgia will experience large voter turnout in the November General Election," Secretary Handel said. "This change in the law gives voters more options to cast their ballot and will ease wait times on election day."

Voters can request a mailin ballot or vote early inperson through Friday, Oct. 31. All mail-in ballots must be received by the county registrar no later than 7 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.

The U.S. Justice Department signed off in August on a law the Georgia General Assembly passed earlier this year that opened up absentee and early voting to anyone 45 days before an election.

Early voting has become more popular in recent years. In the 2004 general election, 6.5 percent of ballots were cast early.

That figure grew to 21 percent in the July 2008 primaries.

Voters casting ballots inperson during early voting or on election day will be required to show a photo ID.

The Ballot

The marque race on the General Election ballot which is drawing predictions of a record voter turnout is the race for U.S. President.

The presidential tickets include: Democrat: Barack Obama, President and Joe Biden, Vice President. Republican: John McCain, President and Sarah Palin, Vice President. Libertarian: Bob Barr, President and Wayne A. Root, Vice President.

Candidates for the Second Congressional District will include Democrat Sanford Bishop, incumbent, and Lee Ferrell.

In the race for U.S. Senate, incumbent Saxby Chambliss, Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Jim Martin and Libertarian Allen Buckley.

There will be two Public Service Commission races on the ballot. One a threeway race between Lauren W. McDonald, Jim Powell and Brandon Graves.

The other PSC race is between incumbent H. Doug Everett and John H. Mounds.

There is only one race for the the Georgia Appeals Court on the ballot, but there are seven candidates seeking that judgeship: Tamela L. Adkins, Sara Doyle, Bruce M. Edenfield, Christopher J. McFadden, Perry J. McGuire, Michael S. Meyer von Breman and Mike Sheffield.

Write-in candidates

Write-in presidential candidates which will be on the ballot include: Jonathan Allen, Chuck Baldwin, Brian Russell Brown, David C. Byrne, James Harris, Cynthia McKinney, Frank Moore and Ralph Nader.

For vice-president: Rosa Clemente, Alyson Kennedy and Jeff Stath.

For U.S. Senate: Eleanor Garcia and William Salomone, Jr.

Three Local Races Probate Judge: Local nonpartisan races on the Nov. 4 General Election ballots include a race for the office of Probate Judge between incumbent Tonya Holley and Clink Alexander.

School Board District 2: Incumbent school board member Phyllis Craft faces a challenge by Denise Williams for re-election to her District 2 Board of Education seat.

School Board District 5: There is a three-way race for the at-large District 5 Board of Education seat between incumbent Ronnie "Rat" Ashley, Cynthia Levatte and Jackie Love.