Election Day Is Today

Today is Election Day and Stephens County is joining the rest of the nation in heading to the polls.

Stephens County Registrar Bill Cochran said polls will open this morning for voters at the Stephens County Senior Center on Rose Lane for what he expects to be a very busy day.

Polls at the Senior Center are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“We are expecting a heavy turnout,” said Cochran. “We had a historic number of early voters.”

According to Cochran, more than 7,700 people in Stephens County cast ballots through early voting or mail-in absentee ballots.

Any remaining mail-in paper ballots not turned in must be back at the Stephens County Registrar’s Office by 7 p.m. tonight in order to count.

Meanwhile, those heading to the Senior Center today will need a photo ID.

Cochran has another reminder for those going to the Senior Center for voting.

“There is no campaigning within 150 feet of the polling place,” said Cochran. “That means talking about your favorite candidate, caps, stickers, pins, T-shirts. They are not allowed.”

While polls close at 7 p.m., anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote tonight.

Cochran said that the counting of votes will begin before 7 p.m. with the mail-in, paper absentee ballots.

“The board is coming with representatives from each political party and their designees and will begin counting at 4 p.m.,” said Cochran. “Those people will be sequestered and will not discuss any results until after the polls close.”

No results will be released before 7 p.m. and no votes on machines will be counted prior to 7 p.m. when the polls close.

Voters in Stephens County are not just casting a ballot in the presidential race.

They are also choosing a Stephens County State Court Solicitor as Democratic incumbent Willie Woodruff faces off with Republican challenger Ann Pickett.

Other contested races on the ballot include the U.S. Senate race where Republican incumbent Johnny Isakson faces two challengers, Democrat Jim Barksdale and Libertarian Allen Buckley, as well as a Public Service Commission race.

Voters in Georgia are also deciding several state constitutional amendment questions.

Tune in beginning at 7 p.m. for live election updates on the new 93.1 FM and AM 630 WNEG.