Voter registration to close Tuesday

Some important dates for Grady County voters to remember are fast approaching.
Next Tuesday, Oct. 9, is the final day to register to vote in the Nov. 6 general election, according to election officials.
Chief Registrar Jean Marshall announced this week that early voting will commence on Monday, Oct. 15, at 8 a.m. and will be held each weekday until Friday, Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily.
One day of Saturday early voting will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
All advanced voting takes place in the registrar’s office at the courthouse.
There are three contested local races on the Nov. 6 ballot including sheriff, District 1 school board and District 3 school board.
Grady County Sheriff Harry Young, running as a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Earl Stuckey. This is the third time Stuckey has run for sheriff, once as a Democrat and now twice as a Republican.
Sheriff Young is seeking his third term of office.
The District 1 school board election features Democrat Mike Russell and Republican Jeff Worsham, both of whom are new to local politics.
In the District 3 school board race, Republican Allen Jenkins, who was appointed earlier this year to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Byron Puckett, will face Democrat Marty Cannington.
The Nov. 6 ballot will also feature the State House of Representatives District 173 contest between incumbent Republican Representative Darlene Taylor and Democrat Haley Shank.
Topping the ballot is the race for president between President Barack Obama and challengers Republican Mitt Romney and Libertarian Gary Johnson.
U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican John House.
Two Public Service Commission posts are up for election. In the first race, incumbent Chuck Eaton is being challenged by Stephen Oppenheimer, a Democrat, and Brad Ploeger, a Libertarian.
In the second race, incumbent Republican Stan Wise is being challenged by Libertarian David Staples.
Two constitutional amendments will appear on the ballot including the hotly debated amendment regarding charter schools.
On the charter school question voters will be asked, “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?”
The second amendment question is “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide for a reduction in the state’s operating costs by allowing the General Assembly to authorize certain state agencies to enter into multiyear rental agreements?”
The county’s 13 polling places will be open Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. For more information about voting, call the registrar’s office at 229-377-1897.