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Early voting turnout up to 558 as of Friday
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KAYE G. HELMS was one of 558 local voters who have already voted as of the close of business Friday. A countywide sales tax referendum is going on at the same time as the City of Cairo general election.
The first week of early voting is in the books and voters continue to stream into the Board of Registrars office at a steady pace.
As of the close of business Friday, Grady County Chief Registrar Malinda Butler reported that 558 ballots had been cast.
Of that total, 389 are ballots cast in the City of Cairo general election.
This is a rare election when both a countywide referendum and City of Cairo general election are taking place at the same time and voters are casting early votes in both elections at a single location.
In addition to the countywide Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum, city voters are deciding whether or not alcoholic beverages can be sold by the package or drink on Sundays. Voters in three city districts are also selecting city council representatives.
The breakdown of results of district voting by City of Cairo registered voters is: District 1 – 121; District 3 – 96; and District 5 – 100. Districts 2 and 4 do not have city council races on the ballot, only the two Sunday sales questions. The combined vote in districts 2 and 4, as of Friday, is 72.
District 1, which includes portions of northwest and southwest Cairo is currently represented by Mayor Pro Tem Lannis Thornton. He is being challenged by Alicia Gurley and Ann Williams, both political newcomers.
Cairo’s District 3 is primarily southeast Cairo and it is currently represented by Councilman Bobby Gwaltney. Gwaltney is being challenged by Timia Brown, who is a first-time candidate.
Cairo District 5 is mostly northwest Cairo and it is represented by Councilman Jerry Cox. Cox is being challenged by Emory Thomas Sr.
By waiting until election day, some city residents will be required to go to the city polling place, which is the Grady County Agri-Center, on election day to vote in the city’s general and special elections and then go to their respective county polling place, Holder Park (Cairo 4) or the Cairo Municipal Airport (Woodland), to vote in the countywide SPLOST referendum.
Grady County’s Cairo 5 precinct is located at the Grady County Agri-Center, which is also home for all election day voting for the City of Cairo general and special elections. The main room of the Agri-Center will be divided up into two separate areas for the conducting of the countywide SPLOST referendum on one side, and on the other side of the room for the City of Cairo general and special elections, according to Grady Election Superintendent Denise Maddox.
Advance voting for both the countywide referendum and the City of Cairo general and special election is being conducted at the Board of Registrars Office located at 24 Third Ave. N.E., behind the Grady County Courthouse. The hours for advance voting are 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Advance voting continues through 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Voters are also reminded to bring an accepted form of identification when voting. Proper identification required and accepted includes:
A Georgia driver’s license properly issued by the appropriate state agency;
A valid identification card issued by a branch, department, agency, or entity of the State of Georgia, any other state, or the United States authorized by law to issue personal identification, provided that such identification card contains a photograph of the elector;
A valid United States passport;
A valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the elector and issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States government, this state, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
A valid United States military identification card, provided that such identification card contains a photograph of the elector; or
A valid tribal identification card containing a photograph of the elector.
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