Advanced voting in general election begins Oct. 15

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Advanced voting for the 2018 General Election begins next week and Georgia is the home of one of the most intriguing – and expensive — gubernatorial races in the nation.

Pollsters say the race is neck and neck. On Sept. 6, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Channel 2 Action News poll had it 45 percent for Republican Brian Kemp, 45 percent for Democrat Stacey Abrams, 2 percent for independent Ted Metz and 7.5 percent undecided.

Folks who make a living analyzing political races say the Democrats had the momentum and that anger over President Donald Trump’s policies was driving increased voter registration on the left. But that was before the bitterly divisive hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Infuriated by the “guilty until proven innocent,” sexual assault accusations of the liberal left, Republicans have seized the momentum and can be expected to turnout in record numbers to support Kemp.

Health insurance is a key policy difference between the two leading candidates. Abrams supports Medicaid expansion. Kemp says it would bankrupt the state.

Kemp carries the endorsement of President Donald Trump into the election. Abrams is the darling of Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton, Democrats who hope to change the color of Georgia from red to blue.

Advanced voting will be held Monday through Friday from Oct 15 through November 2 between the hours of 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Voters may also cast a ballot on Saturday Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. All advanced voting in Dawson County will take place at the Board of Elections Office, 96 Academy office in Dawsonville.

For questions about your voting location and/or status, call 706-344-3640.

The General Election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., when all precincts will be open.

A large number of candidates will appear on the ballot, but are running unopposed. They include State Senator Steve Gooch, State Representative Kevin Tanner, Northeast Judicial District Attorney Lee Darragh, County Commissioner District 1 Sharon R. Fausett, County Commissioner-elect District 3 Tim Satterfield, Board of Education At-Large William S. Wade, Board of Education District 3 Karen Armstrong.

In addition to choosing political candidates, voters will have an opportunity to vote on five proposed Constitutional amendments and two statewide referendums.

 DAWSON COUNTY BALLOT

Governor

Brian Kemp (R ) Stacey Abrams(D) Ted Met (I)

Lieutenant. Gov.

Geoff Duncan (R) Sarah Riggs Amico (D)

Secretary of State

Brad Raffensperger (R ) John Barrow (D)

Attorney General

Chris Carr (R ) Charlie Bailey (D)

Agriculture Commissioner

Gary Black (R ) Fred Swann (D)

Insurance Commissioner

Jim Beck (R ) Janice Laws (D ) Donnie Foster (I)

State School Superintendent

Richard Woods (R )  Otha Thornton, Jr. (D)

Labor Commissioner

Mark Butler (R ) Richard Keatley

U.S. House of Representatives 9^th District

Doug Collins (R ) Josh McCall (D)

State Representatives 7^th District

David Ralston (R ) Rick Day (D)