Vote 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday

MOULTRIE, Ga. — Even before polls open on Tuesday more than a quarter of Colquitt County’s voters already have weighed in with their ballots, either through early voting or sending in mail-in absentee forms.

With a reportedly tight governor’s race at the top of the ticket, the county’s 19 voter precincts — open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. — could be busy.

There is only one competitive local race, the one in Colquitt County Commission District 1.

The turnout in the 2018 mid-term elections could approach, or even exceed, that of a year when there is a presidential race on the ballot.

“We haven’t had this kind of participation early” like this, said Colquitt County Probate Court Judge Wes Lewis, whose office oversees elections in the county. “These are presidential-type numbers.”

Votes cast early, either through mail or in person, totaled 6,513, he said. There are a little more than 22,000 registered voters.

While early voting is held at the Colquitt County Courthouse Annex building, for election day voters have to go to their respective precincts to vote.

Voters who do not know the location of their precinct can check online at the secretary of state’s office at https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do, or call the Colquitt County voter registrar’s office at (229) 616-7056.

A voter also can see a sample ballot for his or her district on the website.

There is only one local contested race — that between District 1 Colquitt County Commissioner Barbara Jelks and Republican Stacey Williams. Jelks, a Democrat, won an election earlier this year to complete the unfinished term of the late Commissioner Luke Strong Jr.

The winner of Tuesday’s contest will begin a full four-year term starting in January.

About 80 to 100 workers will be at the polling places.

Lewis said they will be prepared if there are large numbers of people voting, which he expects will be the case.

“We’re trained. We’re prepared,” he said. “We hope people will come out, rain or shine. “

Georgia’s governor’s race has focused national attention on the state as Oprah Winfrey and former President Barack Obama have made appearances for Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp has drawn support from President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

“There’s just spectacular interest in this mid-term election,” Lewis said. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen since I’ve been in this office.”