Advance and absentee voting is underway in Richmond County for the Nov. 4 statewide special and municipal election.
Early reports showed a gradual start to ballot returns at four advance voting sites. The Robert Howard Center at Diamond Lakes Regional Park had the heaviest turnout with 408 casting ballots during the first four days of voting.
Diamond Lakes in the Hephzibah area is a key voting site in the Augusta Commission District 4 special election.
The special contest to complete resigned commissioner Alvin Mason’s term is between longtime Mason campaign manager Tanya Barnhill-Turnley and city and Army retiree Lonnie Wimberly. The commission named Barnhill-Turnley interim commissioner in July.
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All told, 1,084 cast ballots during the first four days at one of the four advance voting sites. Saturday returns were not available. The sites are:
- Linda W. Beazley Community Room: 535 Telfair St.
- Henry Brigham Community Center: 2463 Golden Camp Road
- Robert Howard Community Center: 103 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah
- Warren Road Recreation Center: 300 Warren Road
Early voting will be offered at the sites from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 31 as well as Saturday, Oct. 25. Sunday voting is available Oct. 26 at the Beazley Room only.
Registered voters with ID may cast ballots early for any reason at any of the satellite locations.
In addition to early voting, 158 requested absentee ballots during the first four days but none of the ballots had been returned.
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Georgia Public Service Commission
On the ballot in Richmond and statewide are special elections for Georgia Public Service Commission districts 2 and 3. In the District 2 contest, Republican incumbent since 2010 Tim Echols faces a challenge from Democrat Alicia Johnson.
In the District 3 race also decided by all voters is the contest between Republican Fitz Johnson, who was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2021, and Democratic nominee Peter Hubbard.
New homestead exemption on ballot
In Richmond and many other Georgia counties voters will decide whether to approve a new or revised homestead exemption on property tax bills. The exemption reduces or limits the value of owner-occupied properties as used to calculate ad valorem tax bills.
Richmond County’s version of the exemption caps increases in a property’s value at 3.2% per year unless the owner has made substantial changes to the property. The exemption does not apply to school, state or other taxes.
Blythe city elections under way
Voters who live in Blythe also decide several at-large elections in the small town. Their advance or absentee ballot will include the contests, which include:
- Mayor, between Edward LaJoie, Rebecca Bartlett Newsome and Anna Reeves
- Two seats on city council, between Michael Rineer, Sascha Oliver Hagerman, Renee Kaufman and Philip Stewart
