Early voting starts Sept. 22

Well, you can head to the Madison County Registrar’s Office beginning Monday, Sept. 22, to beat the voting rush.

Early voting will be available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 24, with advanced voting week beginning Oct. 27.

“You do not have to have a reason (to cast an early vote),” said Madison County Registrar Tracy Dean. “You can just come in and vote, but you need to bring a picture ID.”

Voters can still get absentee ballots by mail, but they will need to fill out an application first. Those applications are available online at www.sos.ga.us or www.madisoncountyga.us. Dean said the registrar’s office had already received 310 ballot applications by mail as of Sept. 12, including 26 military applications.

Dean urged people who have not voted in at least two presidential elections, who intend to vote in the 2008 elections, to check with the registrar’s office to make sure they are still registered (706-795-6335).

As of Sept. 2, there were 14,033 registered voters in Madison County, up from 12,938 in January.

Contested local races in the upcoming general election include:

•Sheriff’s seat: Democratic incumbent Clayton Lowe and Republican challenger Kip Thomas.

•Probate Judge’s post: (non-partisan): Joley Barber and Cody Cross.

•Tax commissioner’s post: Democratic incumbent Louise Watson and Republican challenger Kathy Stamps.

•BOC District 4 seat: Republican Dewitt Bond and Democrat Melvin Drake.

•BOC District 5 seat: Republican incumbent Bruce Scogin and Democratic challenger Cathy Livesay.

•School board District 3 seat (non-partisan): incumbent Leslie Neal and challenger Gary Cromer.

•District 47 State Senate seat: Republican incumbent Ralph Hudgens and Democratic challenger Tim Riley.

•U.S. 10th District Congressional post: Republican incumbent Paul Broun and Democratic challenger Bobby Saxon.