Richmond County voters have four sites to choose from over 18 days to cast ballots early in Nov. 4 elections, starting Tuesday.
Registered voters with ID may cast a ballot early at any of the sites during the advance voting period. The deadline to register to vote was Oct. 6. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is Oct. 24.
Beginning Tuesday, the following sites will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday, then Oct. 20-25 and Oct. 27-31:
- Linda W. Beazley Community Room at Augusta Municipal Building, 535 Telfair St.
- Henry Brigham Community Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road
- Robert Howard Community Center at Diamond Lakes Park, 103 Diamond Lakes Way
- Warren Road Recreation Center, 300 Warren Road
In addition, Sunday voting will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Beazley Room only.
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Voters statewide will decide special elections for Georgia Public Service Commission districts 2 and 3. For District 2, incumbent Republican Tim Echols faces a challenge from Democrat Alicia Johnson. In District 3, appointed incumbent Republican Fitz Johnson faces Democrat Peter Hubbard.
Augusta-Richmond County voters will decide whether to approve a new homestead exemption. The exemption freezes property tax assessments and limits increase to 3.2% annually.
Local legislators created the exemption last spring after the Augusta Commission voted to “opt out” of a proposed statewide cap on reassessments. The referendum reads as follows:
“Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from Augusta-Richmond County ad valorem taxes for consolidated government purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the adjusted base year assessed value, including any final determination of value on appeal pursuant to Code Section 48-5-311 of the O.C.G.A., as amended, of such homestead?”
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Augusta Commission District 4
In addition to the referendum, Richmond County voters who live in Augusta Commission District 4 are deciding a special election to complete the term of Commissioner Alvin Mason, who resigned in June for health reasons. District 4 includes areas such as Pepperidge, Sandridge and Diamond Lakes.
While the Nov. 4 winner will serve all of next year, the seat is back on the ballot during May midyear city elections. The candidates are:
- Tanya Barnhill-Turnley, Mason’s former campaign manager whom he endorsed to replace him, was appointed by the commission to serve until the special election. She served on the Augusta Charter Review Committee and owns a media consulting business.
- Lonnie Wimberly, a retired Army command sergeant major and former city deputy director, was president of the Richmond County Neighborhood Association Alliance and serves on the charter review committee and supported motions to adopt a manager form of government.
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Blythe mayor and council
Finally, voters in small Blythe are electing a mayor and two city council members. Candidates for mayor include:
- Edward LaJoie, a former Blythe council member who works at St. John Towers, ran for mayor in 2023 after resigning from the city council.
- Rebecca Bartlett Newsome, an Augusta barber who was elected to the council in 2023.
- Anna Reeves, a small business owner, previously served as president of Augusta Young Professionals and of the Augusta library system board of trustees.
Four candidates are seeking two seats on the Blythe City Council:
- Michael Rineer, Army veteran and instructor.
- Sascha Oliver Hagerman, a hospital patient care technician.
- Renee Kaufman, a former council candidate and small business owner.
- Philip Stewart, a mechanic who previously served as Blythe mayor.
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