For Waynesboro races Advance voting begins Monday
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

County employee Diann Williams, administrative assistant to the building official, looks over a voting machine at the courthouse. Early bird voters may cast their advance ballots there next Monday-Friday, as a matter of convenience.

Waynesboro voters will have five days to cast their ballots early.

Advance voting will be held at the Burke County Court House Oct. 29-Nov. 2.

The pre-Election Day voting period is open to all registered voters, as a matter of convenience.

Most Waynesboro residents will have just one choice on their ballots - George DeLoach or Pauline Jenkins for mayor.

But, the 627 voters in Ward 3 will also have to decide whether newcomer William Alston or incumbent Willie Roy Williams will represent them on city council.

Candidates Bill Tinley, Ward 1, and Herman Brown, Ward 2, are unopposed.

Absentee voting, which began Oct. 15, will also continue through next Friday; however, unlike advance voters, those who cast absentee ballots must have a valid excuse, such as a disability or out-of-town plans, for not making it to the polls on Nov. 6.

In the 2003 municipal election, more than a quarter of the 1,025 voters cast absentee ballots. In that election, only 43 percent of Waynesboro voters even made it to the polls. The strongest showing was from Ward 1 which accounted for 729, or nearly 60 percent, of the voters. Ward 2, the city's largest ward, had only 373 voters turn out. Ward 3, which had approximately 600 active voters at the time, had the smallest showing with 242.

CALENDAR CALL

Oct. 29: Advance voting begins, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Absentee voting continues Nov. 2: Absentee and Advance voting ends Nov. 6: Election Day - 7 a.m.-7 p.m. - Burke County Office Park

* A photo ID is required when voting in person. For information about free voter ID cards, call 706-554-7457.