Early voting starts Monday

Published 10:47 pm Saturday, June 28, 2014

If the thought of possibly having to stand in line in the hot sun to vote in the July 22 runoffs worries you, you can beat the heat by voting early.

Early voting starts for the runoffs on Monday.

Local voters only have a few races to make a choice in, but two are for positions that could really affect their lives over the next few years.

In Whitfield County, Renee Davis faces Barry Robbins for the Republican nomination for Whitfield County Board of Commissioners District 1. No Democrat qualified, so the winner of that runoff will most likely take office in January.

Incumbent Republican Gordon Morehouse declined to run for re-election this year.

And voters in both Whitfield and Murray counties will choose a judge for the Conasauga Superior Court. Incumbent David Blevins faces Dalton Municipal Court Judge Jim Wilbanks. That race is nonpartisan, so the winner will become judge.

And there are also some statewide runoffs, including for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate between U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston of Savannah and Macon businessman David Perdue. The winner will face Democratic nominee Michelle Nunn.

The Republican runoff ticket also includes former Columbia County educator Mike Buck facing Irwin County educator Richard Woods for the party’s nomination for state school superintendent.

On the Democratic runoff ballot, former Georgia School Boards Association chairwoman Valarie Wilson faces state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan of Austell for that party’s nomination for state school superintendent.

In both Whitfield and Murray counties, early voting continues through July 18.

In Whitfield County, early voting occurs at the Registrar’s Office, 205 N. Selvidge St., Suite K, in Dalton. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In Murray County, early voting occurs at the Courthouse Annex, 121 N. Fourth Ave. in Chatsworth. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Those who voted in the May 20 primary must vote in the runoff of the party whose primary they voted in. Registered voters who did not vote in the primary may still vote in the runoff and may vote for the party of their choice.

Voters must show an accepted form of a valid photo ID. These include a Georgia driver’s license, even if expired; any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free voter ID card issued by a county registrar’s office or the Department of Driver Services; a valid passport; a valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency or entity of the U.S. government, the state of Georgia or any county, municipality, board, authority or other state entity; a valid U.S. military photo ID; or a valid tribal photo ID.