Polls open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday.
For a list of polling places click here.
As the county braces for a predicted record number of voters, local political party headquarters drastically differ on their approach to the final weekend of the 2008 election season.
“I’ve seen a good bit of activity,” M.L. Coffer, Liberty County Democratic Party chairman, said. “There’s going to be a big turnout. Everyone’s excited.”
Although he thinks Liberty County residents, for the most part, are very motivated to vote this season, Coffer is still encouraging people to get out and cast ballots because he feels the economy depends on it.
“I want to see the economy turn around,” he said. “I’m just a country boy trying to make a living.”
Coffer said over the weekend and into the week the Democratic party is focused on getting people out to vote and putting out posters. Coffer said he has seen more energy and excitement from his party this election year.
“We’ve got a good group, there’s a little more excitement than the last election,” he said.
On the other end of the spectrum, Ted Harris, chairman for the Liberty County Republican Party, said he has given up on the race for president and is focused on getting U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss re-elected.
“The race here in Liberty County is low-key. It’s a minority-safe district with over 60 percent being African-American,” Harris said. “The resources [for the presidential race] haven’t been committed to Liberty County. Basically, they’re not asking me to step in front of that freight train,” he said in reference to Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign success among such counties.
Harris and his party have turned their focus on Chambliss’ campaign against challenger, Democrat Jim Martin.
“We’re relying on people of Liberty County to vote for their own best interest,” he said. “He’s a senior ranking representative of the Armed Services Committee and military infrastructure is important to the Liberty County economy.”
On Friday, Harris attended a rally for Chambliss in Richmond Hill where he said about 100 people came out to support U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston and Sens. Chambliss and Johnny Isackson.
“Veterans came out to talk with all three U.S. representatives about veterans issues,” Harris said. “We want to make sure all the Iraq veterans are taken care of.”
Big turnout
Despite the political maneuvering, voters turned out by the hundreds to vote early. On Friday afternoon there was a line, or blob, of people filling up the parking lot surrounding the elections office. Some said the process was running smoothly while other said they were frustrated.
“It’s taking forever. We’ve been here since 11:30,” voter Meredith Brannon of Midway said at about 1:45 p.m. as she sat on the curb waiting for her name to be called. Her friend Rachel Long agreed and said it seemed a bit unorganized, but both women said it was worth the wait.
“Change is needed,” Long said.
As it got closer to Election Day the traffic seemed to be getting heavier as people earlier in week were ecstatic about the convenience of early voting.
“You never know what could come up on Election Day. This way you can plan ahead. It’s also not as crowded, which is a really good thing,” Laticia Brown said as she cast her early vote.
According to Ella Golden, supervisor of elections for Liberty County, as of 4:30 p.m. on Friday 7,654 voters had voted early at the Hinesville location and 396 voters at an early poll set up in Midway on Wednesday.
Golden said preliminary results should be available for release Tuesday nights, as tallies are made, but the vote will get its official computation and canvassing at 10 a.m. Wednesday in her office, 102 S. Commerce.
“I’ve seen a good bit of activity,” M.L. Coffer, Liberty County Democratic Party chairman, said. “There’s going to be a big turnout. Everyone’s excited.”
Although he thinks Liberty County residents, for the most part, are very motivated to vote this season, Coffer is still encouraging people to get out and cast ballots because he feels the economy depends on it.
“I want to see the economy turn around,” he said. “I’m just a country boy trying to make a living.”
Coffer said over the weekend and into the week the Democratic party is focused on getting people out to vote and putting out posters. Coffer said he has seen more energy and excitement from his party this election year.
“We’ve got a good group, there’s a little more excitement than the last election,” he said.
On the other end of the spectrum, Ted Harris, chairman for the Liberty County Republican Party, said he has given up on the race for president and is focused on getting U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss re-elected.
“The race here in Liberty County is low-key. It’s a minority-safe district with over 60 percent being African-American,” Harris said. “The resources [for the presidential race] haven’t been committed to Liberty County. Basically, they’re not asking me to step in front of that freight train,” he said in reference to Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign success among such counties.
Harris and his party have turned their focus on Chambliss’ campaign against challenger, Democrat Jim Martin.
“We’re relying on people of Liberty County to vote for their own best interest,” he said. “He’s a senior ranking representative of the Armed Services Committee and military infrastructure is important to the Liberty County economy.”
On Friday, Harris attended a rally for Chambliss in Richmond Hill where he said about 100 people came out to support U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston and Sens. Chambliss and Johnny Isackson.
“Veterans came out to talk with all three U.S. representatives about veterans issues,” Harris said. “We want to make sure all the Iraq veterans are taken care of.”
Big turnout
Despite the political maneuvering, voters turned out by the hundreds to vote early. On Friday afternoon there was a line, or blob, of people filling up the parking lot surrounding the elections office. Some said the process was running smoothly while other said they were frustrated.
“It’s taking forever. We’ve been here since 11:30,” voter Meredith Brannon of Midway said at about 1:45 p.m. as she sat on the curb waiting for her name to be called. Her friend Rachel Long agreed and said it seemed a bit unorganized, but both women said it was worth the wait.
“Change is needed,” Long said.
As it got closer to Election Day the traffic seemed to be getting heavier as people earlier in week were ecstatic about the convenience of early voting.
“You never know what could come up on Election Day. This way you can plan ahead. It’s also not as crowded, which is a really good thing,” Laticia Brown said as she cast her early vote.
According to Ella Golden, supervisor of elections for Liberty County, as of 4:30 p.m. on Friday 7,654 voters had voted early at the Hinesville location and 396 voters at an early poll set up in Midway on Wednesday.
Golden said preliminary results should be available for release Tuesday nights, as tallies are made, but the vote will get its official computation and canvassing at 10 a.m. Wednesday in her office, 102 S. Commerce.