DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Lumpkin County Chief Registrar and Election Manager Ashley Peck says voter turnout for the 2014 General Primary is about as she expected with the numbers running close to those of 2012.

“We have 17,500 registered voters in White County and in 2012 we had 5,671 ballots cast or about 38 percent turnout,” she said.

Advanced voting is also similar to 2012. “We’re averaging about 80-90 voters a day, which is about the same as it was in 2012,” Peck said. “As of 10 a.m. Friday, 718 voters had cast ballots.”

The key race at the federal level is for 9th District U.S. Congress where the incumbent Doug Collins of Gainesville has come under heavy fire from conservatives as a result of his support for President Obama’s Omnibus bill and House Speaker John Boehner. His challengers include former 10th District Congressman Paul Broun, Lanier Tea Part Patriots founder Mike Scupin, White County educator Roger Fitzpatrick and retired Army and National Guard Brigadier General Bernie Fontaine.

State Senator Steve Gooch of Dahlonega is running for re-election in the 51st District and has drawn a strong challenge from John Williamson, co-founder of the Gilmer County Tea Party.

Several key races highlight the local elections. Board of Commissioners Chairman Chris Dockery has drawn a challenger in current District 1 Commissioner Doug Sherrill. David Miller and Bill Scott will compete for the seat being vacated by Sherrill. There is a four-way race for District 2 Commissioner where the candidates are incumbent Steve Shaw, Bobby Mayfield, Carlton Smith and D.J. Wight.

In the race for District 1 Board of Education, the candidates are Catherine Ariemma, Jay Sessions and Mera Turner.

Voting continues Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 8 am. until 5 p.m. at the Elections Office, 56 Short Street in Dahlonega.