Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. today as Effingham County voters will decide on a host of races and measures on the ballot.
Of the 28,326 registered voters in the county, 2,110 took part in early voting, which concluded Oct. 29. The Effingham Board of Elections and Registration also has received 406 absentee ballots, with about 150 still to be turned in as of Monday afternoon.
There are four contested races in the county, along with several other races for seats that cover all or parts of Effingham County.
Voters in District 1 will choose between incumbent Eddie Tomberlin and challenger Nina Dasher for the board of education. Incumbent James Dasher and challenger Mose Mock are vying for the school board District 4 seat.
There are three county commission races, though one is uncontested. The two contested races involve political newcomers, with Republican Phil Kieffer and Democrat Delmons White running for the District 5 post and Republican Steve Mason and Democrat Lillie Smart Brown running for the District 3 post.
Vera Jones, also a Republican, has no Democratic opposition to her bid for the District 2 seat.
Jon Burns and Ann Purcell, who each represent portions of Effingham in the state House of Representatives, also face challengers in their re-election bids. Burns, a Republican seeking a fourth team in the General Assembly, faces Elizabeth Johnston of Statesboro for his District 157th seat, which covers northern Effingham County and all or parts of four other counties. Purcell, a Rincon Republican who won a special election to the District 159 seat last year, is being challenged by Savannah Democrat Tawana Garrett.
State Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) faces no challengers in his quest for an 11th term under the Gold Dome.
U.S. Rep. John Barrow (D-Savannah) is facing Republican challenger Ray McKinney, an Effingham County High School alum, for Georgia’s 12th District seat.
Statewide posts up for election this year include governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, school superintendent and commissioners of agriculture, insurance and labor. There is also a Public Service Commission seat, one state Supreme Court position and three state Appeals Court judgeships up for election.
Along with five proposed constitutional amendments, Effingham voters also will decide whether to renew the one-cent special purpose local option sales tax and the one-cent E-SPLOST for the school system.
