Phillip Ramati

Jul. 7, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Elections officials in Bibb and Houston counties are expecting relatively light voter turnout for advance voting that begins today for the summer primaries.

Elaine Carr, supervisor of elections in Bibb County, said she expects between 1,800 and 2,000 voters this week, which would be comparable to advance voting in 2004, which saw 1,839 voters for the local primaries.

"I've got my fingers crossed," she said. "People haven't been showing much interest so far. ... At this point, it's been pretty slow. I'm hoping to see them come out."

Carr said the number of advance voters showing up to cast ballots in the local primaries, which feature races for Bibb County sheriff and County Commission chairman, is expected to be much lower than it was in February for the presidential primaries. Carr said more than 4,900 voters took advantage of advance voting in the winter.

"Any other time, (the local) primary would've been a big election," she said. "I don't know why, but there seems to be less interest this year. People seem to be focused on November."

Sue Walker, the Houston County Board of Elections clerk, said the county saw 9,000 advance voters in February, but she doesn't think there will be that many this week.

Still, she said, "we're hoping for a big turnout."

Absentee voting began 45 days before the election when absentee ballots were sent out.

In addition, voters can go to the Board of Elections office to vote before the week of advance voting if they sign a sworn statement as to a reason why they can't vote during the advance voting week or Election Day.

Carr said some of those voters include the elderly, disabled and poll workers.

In Bibb County, only 166 people have voted absentee at the Board of Elections so far, while the board has mailed out about 800 absentee ballots. In Houston County, the Board of Elections has seen 113 absentee voters and mailed 260 absentee ballots.

By comparison, nearly 1,900 voters came out for absentee voting in July 2004, Carr said.

Even though voter interest in advance voting has been lukewarm so far, Bibb County has actually seen a surge of registered voters since January, thanks to the presidential race, she said.

Both parties, especially the Democrats, have conducted huge voter registration drives this year.

As a result, there are 76,388 registered voters in the county, up 7 percent since January.

"That's a very unusual increase," she said. "In 2000 and 2004, the increase (of registered voters) was very small. This is newsworthy. The numbers are really going up this year."

Carr said voters who registered after June 16 won't be eligible vote in the July 15 primary or the Aug. 5 runoff, if one is necessary.

But they will be able to vote in the November general election.

Carr also is reminding voters that they will have to declare their political party in the primary and any runoff.

For example, if voters want to vote for Republicans in the County Commission chairman's race, they can't vote in the sheriff's primary, which features Democrats.

To contact writer Phillip

Ramati, call 744-4334.

------

Newstex ID: KRTB-0118-26480613