Our View: Take advantage of early voting

Published 9:55 pm Monday, July 4, 2016

The number of roadside political signs has decreased in the past few weeks, but a few are still  up, for a good reason. There’s a runoff election looming.

The runoff is Tuesday, July 26, for four contested races in Whitfield and Murray counties. And you can be among the first to cast your votes starting today as early voting begins across Georgia. There’s little excuse not to vote, because even if you have a prior commitment on July 26, you may cast an early ballot from now until Friday, July 22.

Traditionally, runoff elections don’t elicit the amount of advertising or campaigning as in general primaries and elections. Nor do they fire up voters’ interest much either. Unfortunately, voter turnout probably will be dismal this time as well.

Voters in both counties will be deciding who will be the next judge of Superior Court, either Steve Farrow or Scott Minter. Also on the ballots in both counties — depending if you live in the 6th House District — is a Republican runoff between state Rep. Tom Dickson and challenger Jason Ridley. Whitfield voters will chose between John Lofty and Shana Byers Vinyard for an open county Magistrate judgeship. In Murray County, there’s a runoff for the Murray County Board of Education seat in District 3, James “Chris” Owens and Aaron Phillips.

To vote early, go to your board of elections and registrars office in your county courthouse — with proper ID — on Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. in Dalton and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Chatsworth.

Some critics of early voting argue that citizens who vote early may be more likely to make ill-informed decisions.

Proponents counter that early voting opportunities make the voting process more convenient for citizens, thereby increasing turnout and diversifying the electorate.

We tend to agree with the latter, that early voting is good for everyone.

As we said earlier, voter turnout in this runoff will most likely be low. That places more value on each vote, as one block of voters could swing an election toward their candidate because everyone else stayed home.

Also keep in mind that whoever is victorious in this election will probably be unopposed in November, so this runoff will most likely determine who will be in those jobs for some time to come.