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Three days left for early voting, tiny turnout so far
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Only three days remain for in-person early voting before the Nov. 5 elections but just under 2 percent of registered voters, or 919, have cast their ballots as of Monday.

In contrast, last year, which was a presidential election year, about 53.6 percent, or 27,172 voters, cast their ballots early by the end of the early voting period.

In the 2009 elections, which only had city elections and only involved two precincts, there was a turnout of about 3 percent for early voting.

This year, all Rockdale voters have the ESPLOST on their ballot. City residents have a mayoral race and up to two unopposed city council races on their ballots.

The precinct with the highest early turnout, at 3.47 percent, is the Conyers precinct. The lowest turnout so far is Bethel, at 1.12 percent.

All voters, whether they live in the city of Conyers or unincorporated Rockdale County, will be able to vote on Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or the penny sales tax for education capital purposes.

City residents will have the mayor's race on their ballots. The mayoral candidates are Kathy Lorraine Harvey, incumbent Mayor Randy Mills and Michael Thomas Zanetti.

Olivia Ware will be listed on the ballot but has been disqualified from the election due to questions of her residency not being in the city of Conyers for at least one year.

City residents in the Conyers precinct will have the District 1 City Council race on their ballots.

City residents in the Olde Town precinct will have both the District 1 and the District 2 Post 1 City Council race.

Both city council incumbents are running unopposed. Cleveland Stroud is running unopposed for District 1 and has served in that seat since 1994.Chris Bowen is running unopposed for the District 2 Post 1 seat and has served in the seat since 1991.

In-person early voting poll hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Oct. 14 - Nov. 1 at the Board of Elections office, located at 1400 Parker Road, Lobby C.

Voters should make sure to bring ID. The six forms of acceptable photo ID include:

•Georgia driver's license, even if expired;

•Valid photo ID card issued by any State or U.S. government;

•Valid United States passport;

•Valid Government employee photo identification card;

•Valid United States military identification card with photo; or

•Valid tribal identification card with photo.

On election day, Nov. 5, polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and voters should go to their assigned precinct.

For more information, call the Rockdale Board of Elections at 770-278-7333.