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Early voters may face difficulties

• Many Dougherty County voters may cross party lines to vote in the July 15 primaries.

Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — Before voters pick up their absentee ballot this week or make a trip to the Dougherty County Elections office to take part in early voting, they’ll need to decide what ballot they actually want to pick up.

Die-hard Republican who wouldn’t think of voting for a Democrat under any circumstances have that prerogative. But such loyalists should know going in that if they pick up a Republican ballot for the July 15 primaries in Dougherty County, they will not be allowed to vote in the sheriff, district attorney, coroner, District 12 State Senate or at- large board of education races.

And voters who opt for a Democratic ballot will not have an opportunity to vote in the Republican District 1 board of education contest pitting incumbent David Maschke against newcomer Laura Calhoun.

“Voters will have to make a choice,” Elections Administrative Assistant Sharon Armbrust said Monday, the first day of early voting for the elderly, disabled and those who will be out of precinct on election day. “For the primary, you’re going to have to choose a Democratic or Republican ballot.

“A lot of people are concerned because they think there is a presidential element (in the primaries), but there is none whatsoever.”

The makeup of those ballots, however, has led to a situation in which Republicans are going to have to choose between holding the party line or crossing over to the Democratic ballot in order to have a say in the crucial races that have only Democratic candidates.

Such a scenario could play a huge role in determining the outcome of a number of races.

“It’s certainly an issue we’re going to have to deal with,” Maschke said Monday. “I have been fortunate enough to receive strong Republican and Democratic support, but now I know I’m going to have to work hard to educate my base (on the ballot issues) to ensure that they stay with me.

“This issue certainly throws another element into the picture.”

The elections office started mailing out absentee ballots Monday to military personnel and to persons who will not be in the county for the primaries. The office also had its first advance voter, which is allowed through July 11 for the elderly, the disabled and those who know they will be out of town during the primaries.

“We’ll also have the (weeklong) advanced voting period July 7-11,” Elections Administrative Assistant Ginger Nickerson said. “Voting will be held at the RiverFront Resource Center’s Candy Room at 125 Pine Ave. from 8:30 (a.m.) to 4:30 (p.m.).

“The last day we’ll mail out (absentee) ballots is July 11, and they have to be in our office by 7 p.m. on the 15th.”

Persons who request an absentee ballot must select a party ballot, so those voters must determine ahead of time which to request, officials said. Those who sent applications in February (during the presidential preference primary) and do not specify which ballot they want for the July 15 primaries will receive the same party’s ballot.

“If they change their minds because they want to vote for one particular office or another, we’ll have to reissue their ballot,” Armbrust said.

During the 2006 general primaries, 14,603 Dougherty voters cast absentee or advance ballots.

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