Just under half of Bulloch County's registered voters showed up at the polls Tuesday, lured into action by the hotly contested gubernatorial and congressional races, local races, pertinent issues or a sense of responsibility as citizens.
Bulloch County Probate Judge Lee DeLoach, who also serves as the county's election superintendent, said voter turnout didn't quite reach his earlier prediction that 53 percent of voters would show up at the polls.
Voter turnout was "49.13 percent," he said late Tuesday, around 11:30 p.m., as he was leaving the Bulloch County Courthouse. "I'm pleased with the turnout. It was a very decent turnout, but I'd have liked to have more."
An intense interest in the congressional and gubernatorial races likely spurred voters to head to the polls, he said.
Turnout was solid across the county Tuesday, he said.
Checking on things around lunchtime at the Portal precinct, DeLoach said about 250 people had cast their ballots before noon. A slow but steady stream of citizens filtered in, making their choices and placing an "I'm a Georgia Voter" peach sticker on their lapels.
Later in the afternoon, Lin Roberts, poll manager at the Pittman Park precinct, said they'd had a steady turnout all day, beginning right when the polls opened at 7 a.m.
"We had people lined up at the door before we opened," Roberts said.
Deloach said there were many people at several precincts "lined up at the polls at 7 p.m., and if you are in line at 7 p.m., you are allowed to vote."
Why vote?
Across the county, people turned out to vote for a variety of reasons. Some were mainly interested in the local races, while others were anxious to cast their votes in the hotly contested gubernatorial and congressional races.
Whether it was health care, agriculture, or education, people at the polls appeared to have strong views – as well as hopes – regarding those for whom they voted.
For Laine Lynch, who said she voted in every election, the local races and the governor's race were the ones that encouraged her to go to the polls.
"I'm a Republican and I think (Sonny) Perdue has done a good job," she said. "I'm also in education and I think he's done a lot for teachers," she said.
Statesboro resident Chad Beasley said personal issues led him to the polls.
"The most important issues to me are programs for the mentally ill and disabled," he said. "I am disabled, and I'd like to see more government housing and funding for those that are disabled. I think they should get an increase in money and up food stamps."
Some folks were disgusted with the campaigns and glad to have it over with.
"I think the governor's race will be close," said Portal's Barbara Mills as she left the voting area. "But with all the calls (from political candidates) it makes you feel like not voting for them. Most of the calls are from the same people over and over."
GSU students
Georgia Southern University student Bryan Toles said the race for Congress, governor and the local races were the ones that drew the most interest from him.
"For one, it's a big deal who is running our state," he said. But local races held an interest for him as well, he said, since he's been living in Bulloch County for four years and he thought it was important to be involved.
Agriculture was the focus for Dana Davis. "The main thing for me is local representation in Washington for farmers," she said. "The governor's and congressional seat were the most important races for me because I want to see better representations for farmers."
Some voters were more party-oriented than others. Kathy Anderson said she wanted to see more Democrats in office.
"The (John) Barrow – (Max) Burns race is the most important," she said as she left the Portal City Hall Tuesday. "I think we need a Democrat in Congress and we need to say to the world, and George Bush, that we don't support his policies."
But the president did influence some to get out and vote. Leah Hodges said she hadn't thought much about voting in the election until last week when President George W. Bush came to town.
"When the president came, it made me realize that I needed to take the opportunity to use my rights," she said.
Voters were met with not only a choice of candidates for several races, but the opportunity to vote on constitutional amendments.
"I think the governer's race was most important to me, and the overall experience was good, but I should have read more on the amendments before voting," said Tiffany Worthy.
Pittman Park precinct
As the work day ended late Tuesday afternoon, the tide of voters arriving at Pittman Park United Methodist Church in Statesboro began to swell. As voters rushed into the Fair Road voting precinct, the number of young people anxious to cast their ballots appeared to outnumber their older counterparts.
Many of those younger voters were Georgia Southern students with specific issues and political races on their minds.
"I definitely came to vote on an issue," said Keith Bush, a 24-year-old GSU student who is currently pursuing a masters degree in public administration.
"I came to vote for John Barrow," he said. "He supports raising the minimum wage to $7.50 dollars per hour. As someone who is working and attending school, that is very important to me."
Bush wasn't the only college student voting in support of John Barrow. Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers, Chris Brown and Sean Bethune, said they had spent the day encouraging their fellow GSU students to come out and vote.
"My friends and I think it is very important that you exercise your right to vote," Brown said. "Beyond that, I guess the race between Barrow and Burns is really one of the most competitive House races in the country and whoever wins is going to have a direct affect on me."
While some students were concerned with one race or issue more than others, Leslie Beard just relished the chance to vote in her first election. The 18-year-old Statesboro native, and GSU student, felt it was her duty to educate herself about the candidates and their positions before voting.
"I really don't feel like I was taught anything about the issues and politics in school when I was growing up," Beard said. "So, I have watched a number of debates and read about the candidates on line and in the newspaper. I feet it was my responsibility and something that I should do."
General dismay
An informal survey of some of the voters revealed a general dismay with today's politicians and the national parties to which they belong.
"My family and I always vote," said Jackie Hane who came to the polls with her husband and their toddler. "It is something that you ought to do. But, we are just unhappy with this president and what he has done."
Reflecting the mood that has been reported around the country, many voters approached the Pittman Park precinct late yesterday afternoon with a stern look which could be described as one of resignation.
One woman said she just had to come and vote even though she really didn't have anything positive to say about anyone that was running. "I just believe in voting, that everyone should vote," she said. "Even though it doesn't seem there is a whole lot to vote for."
Reported by Holli Deal Bragg, Luke Martin, Jan Moore and Araina Reeves.
Bulloch County Probate Judge Lee DeLoach, who also serves as the county's election superintendent, said voter turnout didn't quite reach his earlier prediction that 53 percent of voters would show up at the polls.
Voter turnout was "49.13 percent," he said late Tuesday, around 11:30 p.m., as he was leaving the Bulloch County Courthouse. "I'm pleased with the turnout. It was a very decent turnout, but I'd have liked to have more."
An intense interest in the congressional and gubernatorial races likely spurred voters to head to the polls, he said.
Turnout was solid across the county Tuesday, he said.
Checking on things around lunchtime at the Portal precinct, DeLoach said about 250 people had cast their ballots before noon. A slow but steady stream of citizens filtered in, making their choices and placing an "I'm a Georgia Voter" peach sticker on their lapels.
Later in the afternoon, Lin Roberts, poll manager at the Pittman Park precinct, said they'd had a steady turnout all day, beginning right when the polls opened at 7 a.m.
"We had people lined up at the door before we opened," Roberts said.
Deloach said there were many people at several precincts "lined up at the polls at 7 p.m., and if you are in line at 7 p.m., you are allowed to vote."
Why vote?
Across the county, people turned out to vote for a variety of reasons. Some were mainly interested in the local races, while others were anxious to cast their votes in the hotly contested gubernatorial and congressional races.
Whether it was health care, agriculture, or education, people at the polls appeared to have strong views – as well as hopes – regarding those for whom they voted.
For Laine Lynch, who said she voted in every election, the local races and the governor's race were the ones that encouraged her to go to the polls.
"I'm a Republican and I think (Sonny) Perdue has done a good job," she said. "I'm also in education and I think he's done a lot for teachers," she said.
Statesboro resident Chad Beasley said personal issues led him to the polls.
"The most important issues to me are programs for the mentally ill and disabled," he said. "I am disabled, and I'd like to see more government housing and funding for those that are disabled. I think they should get an increase in money and up food stamps."
Some folks were disgusted with the campaigns and glad to have it over with.
"I think the governor's race will be close," said Portal's Barbara Mills as she left the voting area. "But with all the calls (from political candidates) it makes you feel like not voting for them. Most of the calls are from the same people over and over."
GSU students
Georgia Southern University student Bryan Toles said the race for Congress, governor and the local races were the ones that drew the most interest from him.
"For one, it's a big deal who is running our state," he said. But local races held an interest for him as well, he said, since he's been living in Bulloch County for four years and he thought it was important to be involved.
Agriculture was the focus for Dana Davis. "The main thing for me is local representation in Washington for farmers," she said. "The governor's and congressional seat were the most important races for me because I want to see better representations for farmers."
Some voters were more party-oriented than others. Kathy Anderson said she wanted to see more Democrats in office.
"The (John) Barrow – (Max) Burns race is the most important," she said as she left the Portal City Hall Tuesday. "I think we need a Democrat in Congress and we need to say to the world, and George Bush, that we don't support his policies."
But the president did influence some to get out and vote. Leah Hodges said she hadn't thought much about voting in the election until last week when President George W. Bush came to town.
"When the president came, it made me realize that I needed to take the opportunity to use my rights," she said.
Voters were met with not only a choice of candidates for several races, but the opportunity to vote on constitutional amendments.
"I think the governer's race was most important to me, and the overall experience was good, but I should have read more on the amendments before voting," said Tiffany Worthy.
Pittman Park precinct
As the work day ended late Tuesday afternoon, the tide of voters arriving at Pittman Park United Methodist Church in Statesboro began to swell. As voters rushed into the Fair Road voting precinct, the number of young people anxious to cast their ballots appeared to outnumber their older counterparts.
Many of those younger voters were Georgia Southern students with specific issues and political races on their minds.
"I definitely came to vote on an issue," said Keith Bush, a 24-year-old GSU student who is currently pursuing a masters degree in public administration.
"I came to vote for John Barrow," he said. "He supports raising the minimum wage to $7.50 dollars per hour. As someone who is working and attending school, that is very important to me."
Bush wasn't the only college student voting in support of John Barrow. Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers, Chris Brown and Sean Bethune, said they had spent the day encouraging their fellow GSU students to come out and vote.
"My friends and I think it is very important that you exercise your right to vote," Brown said. "Beyond that, I guess the race between Barrow and Burns is really one of the most competitive House races in the country and whoever wins is going to have a direct affect on me."
While some students were concerned with one race or issue more than others, Leslie Beard just relished the chance to vote in her first election. The 18-year-old Statesboro native, and GSU student, felt it was her duty to educate herself about the candidates and their positions before voting.
"I really don't feel like I was taught anything about the issues and politics in school when I was growing up," Beard said. "So, I have watched a number of debates and read about the candidates on line and in the newspaper. I feet it was my responsibility and something that I should do."
General dismay
An informal survey of some of the voters revealed a general dismay with today's politicians and the national parties to which they belong.
"My family and I always vote," said Jackie Hane who came to the polls with her husband and their toddler. "It is something that you ought to do. But, we are just unhappy with this president and what he has done."
Reflecting the mood that has been reported around the country, many voters approached the Pittman Park precinct late yesterday afternoon with a stern look which could be described as one of resignation.
One woman said she just had to come and vote even though she really didn't have anything positive to say about anyone that was running. "I just believe in voting, that everyone should vote," she said. "Even though it doesn't seem there is a whole lot to vote for."
Reported by Holli Deal Bragg, Luke Martin, Jan Moore and Araina Reeves.