Final Push to Get Voters to Polls Underway

by WAKA Action 8 News

Runoff elections are just four days away. With several statewide and local elections on the line, many people are predicting a low voter turnout, but there’s a push to get voters to the polls, especially for some hotly contested local offices up for grabs.

We went around our coverage area, asking voters who was running, what elections they cared about and what it would take to get them to the polls.

Fewer than a quarter of registered voters cast ballots during the June primaries. Next week it’s likely only a fraction of those will vote again.

“Probably around 5 percent, which is really sad when you think that probably about 75,000 voters will select who will be in some of these offices in the fall,” Secretary of State Jim Bennett said.

Some voters are blaming negativity and statewide and local races for the apathy.

“you know when you got all these elections and you got all these people that are running against them, trying to discredit them, it makes it hard to pick a person, an individual,” said James Ford.

But others say some very specific races in their counties, like the runoff for sheriff in Macon County, matter enough to get out the votes.

“All the candidates that are left are very good candidates. I’m really encouraged and i want to see who’s going to win. I just think it’s very important for the future of our city,” said Cathleen Colson.

We also asked voters what they were hearing from local civic groups about voting. Many of them told us it has come up in recent weeks–and that there has been a push to get them to the polls, especially for the local races.

The polls are open next Tuesday from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M.