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Advanced voting begins
July 20 primary features state, local races
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Forsyth County News

Local Election Guide 2010

* School board.

* County commission.

* Sample ballots precincts 1-20.

* Sample ballots precincts 21-33.

 

At a glance

Advance voting for the July 20 primary begins Monday at the following locations:

Voter Registrations and Elections Office   
Forsyth County Administration Building
110 E. Main St., Suite 200
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Forsyth County Public Safety Complex    
3520 Settingdown Road
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Midway Park
5100 Post Road
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Cumming Public Library
585 Dahlonega Hwy.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The former Lakeland Community Church (now county property)
2110 Sharon Road
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Advance voting for the July 20 primary election begins Monday and runs through Friday at five locations.

Between mail-in absentee ballots and in-person voting, 585 ballots have been cast since June 7, when the early voting period began.

Forsyth County Elections Supervisor Barbara Luth said turnout was steady for early voting, which was held at just the elections office.

“It’s gotten a little busier every day,” she said.

With several places to vote and longer hours, Luth said she expects the advance voting period to be much more active.

“We’ve had a lot of people ask for copies of their sample ballots," she said. "... If that’s any indication, we’ll be busy next week.”

Voters can cast ballots in either the Republican or Democratic primaries, but not both.

There has been some confusion already with the U.S. District 9 congressional race, said Luth. Many voters participated the May 11 special election and June 8 runoff to fill the seat vacated by Nathan Deal, who is running for governor.

Tom Graves won the runoff and was recently sworn into office, but voters are being asked again to choose a candidate for the seat.

Luth said voters have been “a little confused with that, because they don’t realize what they voted on before was just to fill the unexpired term.”

Graves will serve through the end of 2010. The winner of the primary election will take office in January.

The contest for state school superintendent has also undergone a change since the ballots were printed for the Republican primary as Kathy Cox, listed as the incumbent candidate, has stepped down to pursue another job.

Luth said bright orange signs will be posted at all locations to alert voters to the change.

While advance voting typically doesn’t result in long lines, Luth offered some tips.

“The busier times are early morning, right at lunch and after work,” she said. “So if they go in between those times I think it would be better.”