Officials say that the first week of early voting in the June 17 primary for Public Service Commission (PSC) is off to a slow start, with less than than 800 people casting ballots in Richmond and Columbia counties.
Turnout for an election that has no major state or national candidates running is expected to be low, but that just means that those that do vote have much more power at the ballot box.
Speaking of power, while the election for the PSC may not be one of those races that has the electorate scrambling to the polls, and you are not likely to see committed campaigners, other than the candidates themselves, holding signs in the right-of-ways, that does not mean that the election is not important.
The PSC is not one of those bodies that routinely make the headlines, but it is one of the most powerful boards in the state.
The PSC is important because it acts as a regulatory body, overseeing and protecting the public interest in all things related to telecommunications, electric, and natural gas utilities in Georgia.
Public utilities are constantly attempting to come up with new reasons to hike rates and it is up to the PSC to rein them in and assure they maintain proper service to both urban and rural areas alike.
In the Republican primary, incumbent Tim Echols is facing off against Harlem businessman Lee Muns.
While both men are certainly capable, It is important that Republican voters pick a conservative candidate that can beat out the Democrats in the Nov. 4 election and work to maintain low rates for all Georgians, especially the elderly and those near the poverty line.
Columbia County has one advance voting site at Building G3 in Evans, while Richmond County has four — the Linda Beazley Room downtown, the Henry Brigham Center, the Robert Howard Center at Diamond Lakes and Warren Road Community Center.
Advance voting continues through June 13. On Election Day, June 17, voters must use their assigned polling places.
We urge everyone in the CSRA to take a moment this week and exercise their rights. The good news with special elections, such as this one, no one is likely going to have to stand in line and wait to vote.
