By SALLIE SATTERTHWAITE
Staff Writer

Carolyn Combs, manager of the Fayette County elections office, said she hoped she could head off some of the questions that seem to arise every time there is a primary runoff as there will be next Tuesday, Aug. 11.

"I would like for people to know if you were eligible to vote in the [July 21] primary but did not vote, you are still allowed to vote in the runoff, and you have the choice of either ballot," she began.

"If you did vote in the primary, however, you must vote in the same party in the runoff. You can't cross over in the runoff."

It helps if voters understand that each party is holding a primary election to choose candidates for the November ballot, and the runoff is simply the completion of the primary, she said.

Absentee ballots are available now at the elections office at the county administration building at 140 Stonewall Ave., she noted, adding that voters may also pick up sample ballots to study ahead of time.

"We made a lot of precinct changes that became effective Jan. 1, 1998 when we redrew precinct lines," Combs continued. "These were done because of population changes. Precinct cards were sent out people were notified of the change."

The cost of such a mailing is astronomical, she said, so there are no plans to send a second notification.

"If a person is uncertain for any reason where he should vote in fact, anyone who hasn't voted in 1998 be sure and call us ahead of time to find out where you should go," she added. "We'd rather have you do that than not find your precinct next Tuesday.

"People also need to know that Georgia now requires voters to show I.D., and a precinct card is not acceptable," Combs noted. "But if you don't have I.D. with you, you can fill out a statement swearing to your identity."

The number of the elections office is 770-460-5730, ext. 408.