116 Cast Ballots on First Day of Advanced Voting

DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Advanced in person voting got underway in Lumpkin County Tuesday for the general primary runoff election.

Chief Registrar & Election Manager Ashley Peck said 116 voters cast their ballot yesterday. “It’s going pretty good for the first day,” Peck said. “I was very happy with the turnout.”
Runoff elections generally attract low voter turnout but Peck said Lumpkin County averages 20-22 percent turnout of registered active voters. “In 2012, we had about 3,200 votes cast.” she said.

Incumbent Steve Shaw and Bobby Mayfield are competing for the District 2 seat on Board of Commissioners. Mera Turner and Catherine Ariemma are the candidates in the District 1 Board of Education race.

Jim Sheppard is battling Amanda Jones-Holbrooks for the right to succeed Ron Fortner as county coroner. Jones-Holbrooks defeated Sheppard by a razor thin margin of 18 votes to reach the runoff but her campaign took a major hit last week when she was arrested and charged with first-degree forgery. Jones-Holbrooks maintains her innocence and has said she will not withdraw from the race.

Advance Voting for the Runoff Election will continue Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. through Friday, July 22 and will be held at the Lumpkin County Elections and Voter Registration Office, 56 Short Street, Dahlonega.

Peck would like to remind voters that you can vote in the runoff election even if you did not vote in the general primary.

Contact the Elections Office with any questions. (706) 864 – 6279