Here we go again

UNDATED - While most Georgians will be going to the polls for the first time on Tuesday, for many voters in north Georgia it will be their third trip to the polls already this year.

They are the ones in the 9th Congressional District... which stretches from the northwest corner of the state to the northeastern corner. They've already voted in a special congressional race and runoff for that election. And, some have also voted in special state legislative races which were necessary after posts were left vacant when the office-holders resigned to run in the congressional race. Those elections were set in motion earlier this year when Nathan Deal resigned his seat in Congress to concentrate on his race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

For people in Gillsville, Tuesday will be the fourth time many of them have been to the polls this year. There was a special city council election there in March.

And, there is the prospect of three more trip to the polls this year for all Georgia voters for the primary runoffs on August 10, the General Election in early November and possible General Election runoffs. In addition, a number of special elections are planned in the area on September 21, one of the state-designated dates this year for special elections. They include a city council election in Flowery Branch.

But, Tuesday's Democratic and Republican primaries will mark the first time at the polls this year for most Georgians with party nominees for governor and a host of other state offices on the ballots as well as a slew of local candidates.

In the immediate Gainesville area, the local race that has attracted the largest number of candidates is for Clerk of Courts in Dawson County. Ten people are running for that post. The longtime incumbent was arrested earlier this year on charges of stealing money from the office.

The ten people running for that one office in Dawson County amount to more than are on the ballot in local races in a number of counties in the area, including Hall where there are three contested races, two for county commission seats and one for a spot on the county school board. There are seven candidates vying for those three posts.

In Lumpkin County, there are no contested local races and in many cases in other counties, like Hall, the only contested races are on the Republican ballots.

In many counties, including Hall, the Republican ballot will contain this non-binding question: "Do you support an amendment to the Georgia State Constitution that would declare the right to life is vested in each human being from the earliest biological beginning until natural death?"

Hall County Interim Elections Director Charlotte Sosebee is predicting a 45 percent turnout. Sosebee said Friday that about 3,100 early voters cast ballots in the 45-day early voting period that ended on Friday.