Georgians are heading to the polls today as the final step in the 2018 primaries. The runoffs were prompted by May votes in the races where no candidate got more than 50 percent of the vote.
Voters do not have to have voted in the May primary to vote in the runoff. Those who voted, however, do have to ask for the same party’s ballot that they requested in May.
In Liberty County, the District 4 seat of the board of education is on the ballot. District 4 centers in the Flemington area and extends east toward Midway, Isle of Wight and west into Hinesville and Fleming.
The candidates are both newcomers, as incumbent Marcia Anderson chose not to seek re-election. And the election is nonpartisan, so today’s vote will decide the outcome of the election.
The candidates running are Jim Johns and Annette Payne.
Liberty County voters also have statewide races to decide; Republicans three and Democrats one.
Republicans will decide whether current Secretary of State Brian Kemp or current Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle will carry the party’s banner into the November general election against Democrat Stacy Abrams, who won her party’s nomination in May.
Republicans will also decide between Geoff Duncan and David Schafer for the party nomination for lieutenant governor to replace Cagle, and between David Belle Isle and Brad Raffensperger for the nomination to run for secretary of state to replace Kemp.
While counties will make every effort to release results at the earliest possible time, the highest priority is to maintain accuracy and security, according to the Secretary of State’s website.
Polling places include the Riceboro Youth Center, Charles M. Shuman Recreation Center, Liberty County complex, Walthourville Police Department, Fleming West, Fleming Baptist Church, 1756th Courthouse in Gumbranch, Hinesville Lodge 271, Lyman Hall Elementary School gym, Lewis Fraiser Middle School gym, First Baptist Church social hall, Button Gwinnett Elementary School gym and Allenhurst town hall, according to the voter registration and elections page at libertycountyga.com.
Polls are open until 7 p.m.