Early voting began with a bang Monday as 171 voters cast their ballots at the Board of Elections office in the Bulloch County Annex.

Deputy Registrar Shontay Jones said 15 of them voted on the Democratic ticket, one chose the nonpartisan ticket, and 155 selected the Republican ticket.

Elections Supervisor Pat Lanier Jones reminds Bulloch County residents that if they wish to vote for either of the two Republican candidates running for sheriff - Noel Brown or Jared Akins - they must choose a Republican ballot in the general primary.

This does not mean that they must vote on a Democratic ticket in November; it simply means that if they want to vote in the general primary and vote in the sheriff's race, they must choose a Republican ballot this time, she said.

Akins and Brown are both Republican. The winner of the May 24 general primary will face Democratic sheriff candidate Keith Howard on Nov. 8 in the general election.

Those who are registered to vote, with a valid ID, may cast their ballots early for the general primary until May 20, Lanier said. This must be done at the Bulloch County Annex, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturday voting will be available only on May 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bulloch County Annex on North Main Street and the Honey Bowen Building on Max Lockwood Drive, she said.

The runoff for the general primary is July 26, with no Saturday voting, she said.

Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.