Fayette | News

36% of Fayette’s voters line up to cast ballots early

Tue, 10/28/2008 - 4:00pm
By: Ben Nelms

A lot of Fayette residents decided not to wait until next Tuesday to go to the polls. A whopping 36 percent of the county’s eligible voters had cast their ballots by noon Tuesday.

Elections Officer Brenda Jones said a total of 27,720 ballots, including 2,421 absentee ballots, had been cast so far out of the more than 76,000 eligible to vote as of Oct. 6. That figure represents approximately 36 percent of the county’s eligible voters, she said.

Jones said that this week alone, 2,740 votes had been cast at polling places between Monday morning and noon Tuesday. She said the county could see thousands more go to the polls by the end of the week.

Fayette County has more than 70,300 active voters and more than 5,390 inactive voters, those that have not voted in the past two four-year cycles. Elections officials mailed 4,114 absentee ballots and had received 2,421 as of Friday, Oct. 24, Jones said.

The state’s election computer system crashed sporadically Monday, but those glitches were repeatedly short-lived and have not impeded the voting process, election officials said. Jones said no instances of voter fraud have surfaced since voting began.

Today through Friday, running from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. four locations will be open to accept voters. The locations are:

• The Peachtree City Library, downstairs in the Floy Farr room.

• The Tyrone Library.

• The public meeting room at the Fayette County government complex in downtown Fayetteville. This room is located adjacent to the fountain off Ga. Highway 85 across from the American Legion Log Cabin; and

• The Fayette County Elections Office, in Suite 209, also located in the same building at the Fayette County government complex.

Any registered voter may cast a ballot at either of these four locations, officials have said previously.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, all 36 precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and voters will be limited to voting only in the precinct for which they are registered.

Anyone with questions about which precinct they must vote in Nov. 4 should contact the Fayette County Elections Office at 770-305-5408.

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Voting why is it so hard to do in Georgia?
Submitted by manofwar on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 1:57am.

Making areas with minorities nearly impossible to vote due to longer & longer lines that is the new Poll Tax. It is taxing the patience and ability to cast your ballot.
Karen Handel has not answered requests given in Jan, 2008 for more voting machines. The denial of the machines is her way of instilling a Poll Tax. Voting should not be denied anyone the whole idea of making the voting process more difficult is WRONG. We hear the Republican Party speak of patriotism yet they have forged ahead to deny the right to vote to selected citizens. To withhold voting machines to alter the political process this is a sad state for Americans to be in. The ability to vote should be encouraged instead of denied. A truthful non- altered representation of the populous would be nice to have!!! Over 1400 Georgians have called here to CNN to complain about their inability to stay in line 4-5 hours many had to go to work, others were elderly. Disenfranchising voters can no longer be allowed!

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Voting is NOT hard to do in Georgia
Submitted by susieq on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 9:19am.

These people have had since Sept. 22 to vote early, so they waited until the last 3 or 4 days to stand in line. The elderly could have requested an absentee ballot.

Sonny Perdue told them that some of us were used to waiting in line (those of us who have voted before).

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Do you really believe this?
Submitted by Spyglass on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 8:24am.

Claiming voting has been denied?

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Well, Spy...
meanoldconservatives's picture
Submitted by meanoldconservatives on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 9:06am.

Since they couldn't get any traction in the courts over the ID card requirement, it's time to throw some more poopie against the wall in hopes it will stick. "That mean old whitey Republican Secretary of State Karen Handel is keeping the brothas down....." is how the mantra goes.

But, once again WRONG. In the AJC on Saturday this very allegation was addressed. That paragon of accuracy, the NAACP, issued a "statement"....."The NAACP Voter Fund issued a statement last week alleging that Georgia isn’t putting enough machines in African-American precincts, where Barack Obama’s candidacy is expected to inspire record turnouts."

Well, it must be true then, right??? Uhhh, nope. Let's not let facts get in the way of an argument. But, here are the facts:

"Handel said deciding how many machines to install at particular polling places is “a county function.”

In DeKalb County, for instance, officials consider past turnout and “traffic habits” when assigning machines to precincts, said Maxine Daniels, assistant director of registration and elections.

Gwinnett County is keeping 260 of its 1,840 voting machines on standby in case of exceptional turnout in particular precincts."

So, let me make sure I understand this. Fulton and Clayton counties, for example, that sure seem to be "African American precincts" have the final decision. Those counties that seem to be top to bottom with African Americans in the county government are told to order the correct number of voting machines themselves??? And yet, "Georgia isn’t putting enough machines in African-American precincts" according to the NAACP??? To that end and in order to provide guidance to the individual counties deciding numbers of voting machines...."The secretary of state’s office has told counties that no voter should have to wait in line more than two hours."

Seems like this may not be the first rodeo for Secretary of State Handel though....“I don’t think an interest group has the expertise or knowledge to make that decision,” she said. “It’s important to look at motivations of some of these organizations. … Organizations are out looking at things that can support litigation if they have issues with what the ultimate result is of any election.”

AJC Nov 1st


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Well, I did it. I can now ignore all of those political ads.
Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 4:57pm.

It took just less than thirty minutes at the Fayette County Gov Center. I sure hope my choices were correct.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


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Cyclist
Submitted by Davids mom on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 5:07pm.

CONGRATULATIONS!! You're part of (what I hope) the over 50% of citizens who are voting in 2008!! Sorry you had to wait. Chanel 2 reported no lines in the afternoon at Fayette County Gov. offices.

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mom,
Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 5:12pm.

I seen that. If I didn't have office duty this month I would been there. I agree, I think it's wonderful that everyone is taking an intrest.

BTW, and changing the subject. Did you say you have a relative serving overseas?
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


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Cyclist
Submitted by Davids mom on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 5:23pm.

My grandson returned from Iraq two weeks ago! We were thrilled to have dinner with him at the airport before he returned to active duty in Washington D.C. These young men and women are the heart and soul of our country - and my family is so grateful for the return of our relative, safe and sound!!

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Davids Mom
Tug13's picture
Submitted by Tug13 on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 6:48pm.

Please tell your grandson thank you, and God Bless. Smiling


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Dm
hutch866's picture
Submitted by hutch866 on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 5:26pm.

I'm glad for you and your grandson, tell him thanks, and Bless you from this old salt.

I yam what I yam....Popeye


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mom,
Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 5:25pm.

Outstanding!!!!
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


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