MOULTRIE, Ga. — Time is running out for voters in Colquitt County Commission District 1 who are not registered to vote  in an upcoming special election. The race between seven candidates looking to complete the unexpired term of the late Commissioner Luke Strong Jr. could offer a preview for a race later this year that will decide who gets a full four-year term.

First, voters will go to the polls on March 20 to vote for one of seven candidates seeking the seat held by Strong for nearly 20 years.

Any voter who is not registered and wishes to participate in that election has until the Feb. 20 deadline to do so. Registration must be completed at the Colquitt County Voter Registrar office in the courthouse annex downtown. The office is open from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Those looking to register to vote in the county should bring either a driver’s license or proof of current address, said Registrar Paula McCullough.

“They don’t have to have a photo ID to register, but they do have to have a photo ID to vote,” she said.

Another way to register is to do it online by visiting the Georgia Secretary of State web site at sos.ga.gov. At the menu at the top select Elections and then Register to Vote.

That option is open to Georgia residents who have a driver’s license, McCullough said.

With seven candidates seeking the commission position, it’s quite possible that no candidate will win the majority needed to win outright. In the event a runoff is necessary, the top two vote recipients would compete in an April 17 runoff election.

The candidates who qualified for the special election are:

• Jeron Bridges, 38, a Target distribution center employee.

• Darius Dawson, 47, a Colquitt County Schools administrator.

• Barbara Lewis Jelks, 69, retired.

• Susie Magwood-Thomas, 73, retired.

• William Pittman Jr., 63, a retired funeral consultant.

• James Weeks, 66, a part-time barber.

• Stacey Williams, 55, occupational safety and health specialist.

All list themselves as Democrats.