General Primary 2018: It's now up to the voters

After being bombarded over the last several weeks with TV and radio commercials, robo-calls and mailers, voters make the decision today on which candidates will make it to the General Election ballot in November. 

Some candidates are unchallenged and get a reprieve during the General Primary, but many others - including Georgia's gubernatorial candidates - face challenges. 

AccessWDUN will update the process throughout the day with a photo gallery.

In addition, WDUN AM 55 and FM 102.9 FM will begin wall-to-wall election return coverage at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 22. 

Follow the returns at AccessWDUN, as well. 

HALL COUNTY

Hall County Board of Elections Chairman Tom Smiley spent most of his day traveling from polling place to polling place "meeting and thanking our poll workers." Smiley sent a text to AccessWDUN late Tuesday afternoon saying he had made 16 tops and covered 110 miles. 

The Hall County Elections Office reported "light to moderate" activity at the polls with no problems. 

HOSCHTON

City of Hoschton residents had to pull double-duty on election day, thanks to a special election on the Hoschton City Council.

Voters headed to their regular precinct at Northeast Church to cast a vote in the primaries, then to the Hoschton Depot to vote in the city council race.

As of 11 a.m. there had been 109 votes cast in the city council race (57 early votes, 52 Election Day votes), just 14 votes shy of the turnout for a March 20 special election for a different seat on Hoschton City Council.

MURRAYVILLE  

A heavy rain shower had a handful of early-morning voters crowded together under an overhang at The River Community Church on Thompson Bridge Road in the moments before poll officials unlocked the door at Precinct 16. 

Inside poll workers had been busy for several hours in anticipation of a strong turnout (by primary standards, that is) where incumbent Scott Gibbs was facing a strong challenge from newcomer Shelley Echols for the District 3 seat on the Hall County Commission.

While the daybreak turnout was lighter than normal according to one departing voter, she said more people will show up once the skies begin to clear.

LULA

A county marshal carrying a large measuring tape stretched a green cord across the parking lot, marking the spot along Main Street where the mandated 150-feet "No Campaigning" zone ended.  At both Murrayville (see above report) and Lula it was apparent voting rules and restrictions were being closely followed, and that media representatives were thoroughly briefed on what they could and could not do.

Inside a poll worker said turnout during the first hour of voting had been "slow but steady".

Lula is also a part of District 3 where Scott Gibbs and Shelley Echols are vying for the County Commission District 3 seat.

Skip Carey exited the polling place and said his move from southern Hall County now has him looking at a different set of issues.  Carey said as a result of this election and having to learn about new issues he plans to become more civically and politically aware; he even plans to begin attending local meetings.  "I intend to (attend meetings) now because I'm at a point in my life where I'm becoming more politically active."

State Sen. Butch Miller of Gainesville, also Georgia's Sen. President Pro Tempore, rallies Casey Cagle supporters at Lee Gilmer Airport in Gainesville.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, considered the front runner among GOP gubernatorial candidates, greets supporters at Lee Gilmer Airport in Gainesville Monday evening. Cagle concluded a fly-around of the state in his home county.

Casey Cagle supporters gather at Lee Gilmer Airport in Gainesville to welcome their candidate home ahead of the General Primary on Tuesday.

City Hall serves as voting place in Lula

Lula voter Skip Carey plans to start attending local and county meetings

Early voters in Murrayville at The River Community Church find shelter before polling place doors open

50-foot buffer at Lula polling location was measured and verified accurate in Lula by a Hall County Marshall as polls opened

Posted signs creating buffer at all polling places

The Hoschton Depot is one voting site in Jackson County.

Campaign signs dot the landscape of North Georgia on General Primary Day.

Voters in Jackson County have county commission and school board votes to cast in addition to statewide races to consider.

Hoschton voters have a municipal election and the General Primary election today. They have to go to two different precincts to cast their ballots.

Voting was reported to be light to moderate across Hall County. These voters are casting ballots in Oakwood.

A reprieve in the rain in the Oakwood area Tuesday afternoon. Soggy weather greeted voters for most of the day.

Gwinnett County provided voters with bilingual ballots in Tuesday's election.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/5/673295/general-primary-2018-its-now-up-to-the-voters