Have You Voted Yet? Show Us Your Sticker!

Turnout has been steady at Oconee County polling locations. Upload a photo of yourself with your "I'm a Georgia Voter" sticker, and share with your friends.

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The Electoral College and Popular Vote Explained

It hasn't happened often, but what would happen if the electoral college vote and popular vote are split?

It's a close race, no doubt about that. The two presidential candidates are neck and neck in virtually every poll. If you look at the attached Electoral Map, you'll quickly see that the majority of states are red, but the number of electoral college votes go to President Obama.  So what is this electoral college? The electoral college is a process, not a place, according to the U.S. National Archives. The electors are nominated at either their State party conventions or by votes from the state's central committee.  According to the Archives, "Electors are often chosen to recognize service and dedication to their political party. They may be State-elected officials, party leaders, or persons who have a personal or political affiliation with…

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Georgia Charter Schools Amendment: What Will My Vote Mean?

Tuesday's ballot includes a Georgia constitutional amendment to re-establish a state commission to approve charter schools. Your job is to decide if that's a good idea.

  There aren't a lot of statewide issues on the ballot Nov. 6, but one has the potential to affect school districts, parents and children throughout Georgia. It's Amendment 1, and the ballot will say it "Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options." The question voters will answer yes or no to is, "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?" So what does a yes vote mean? If the amendment passes, the state will create a commission that can approve charter schools in local communities, even if local school boards oppose them. Supporters of the amendment believe this is …

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Early Voting Available Saturday in Oconee County

Over 4,400 Oconee County, Ga. voters have already cast ballots ahead of the Nov. 6 general election.

More than 18 percent of eligible Oconee County voters have cast ballots so far in advance of the Nov. 6 General Election. Deputy registrar Carol Amos said Friday 4,460 ballots were cast in the first 10 days of early voting.  Additionally, roughly 850 people have requested absentee ballots, she said. There are 23, 913 registered and eligible voters in Oconee County, including 1,792 inactive voters, Amos reported. Early voting continues on Saturday, Oct. 27, when the Board of Elections Office on Court Street will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Next week, voters can report to both the Board of Elections Office and the Oconee County Civic Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to vote in advance. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day…

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Flash Poll: No Clear Winner in Monday Night's Debate

Not surprisingly, Republican respondents said Mitt Romney won and Democrats said Barack Obama won. But Democratic respondents were much stronger in their opinion.

  Your view of Monday night’s presidential debate on foreign policy may come down to who you already supported for president. A Patch flash poll of influential Republicans and Democrats in Georgia found that opinions on who won generally fell along party lines: Republicans thought Gov. Mitt Romney was the winner and Democrats thought President Barack Obama prevailed. It was a strong contrast to the first time the candidates faced off on Oct. 3, when the consensus of both parties was that Obama looked bored or annoyed and that Romney succeeded in presenting himself as presidential. Republican respondents said they felt Romney won the final debate, with 26.7 percent saying it was “by a wide margin” and 40 percent “by a slim margin.” Another …

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Obama-Romney Presidential Debate: Who Won?

Monday night was the final face-off for Barack Obama and Mitt Romney before the election. Who do you think won? And do you think it will affect the election?

  The presidential candidates met tonight for their third and final debate in the campaign season. This time, the topic was foreign policy. What did you think of the discussion? Was anyone a clear winner? And will it affect the outcome of the election? Coming to us on a mobile device? If you can't see the blog above, you can review the discussion at this RSS feed.

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Bob Pepalis

2:02 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012

We're closing off the comment stream on this article. But don't worry; with the election on Tuesday, we'll have plenty of articles for you to read and enter dialog with each other. And look for the Question of the Week or Day on many Patch sites to enter that discussion.   more ›

Charles Darwin Challenges Rep. Paul Broun, from the Grave

A University of Georgia scientist has mounted a write-in campaign on behalf of the famous evolutionary scientist. Who will you pick?

Charles Darwin, the father of the science of evolution, can't speak for himself or run for Congress because he's not alive (and not an American citizen). But a University of Georgia scientist hopes supporting Darwin in a write-in campaign can help get U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-GA, booted from his position on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. UGA plant biologist Jim Leebens-Mack has started a Facebook page promoting Darwin as a fantasy alternative to Broun, who was recorded last month dismissing evolution and the Big Bang theory as "lies straight from the pit of hell." Leebens-Mack told the Associated Press that the write-in campaign isn't serious, but the AP reports people behind the movement hope enough support could goad …

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Obama-Romney Presidential Debate: Who Won?

Did either candidate get a bounce? Let us know what you think. And if you missed the debate, you can review the discussion on our live blog below.

  Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama faced off for the second time on Tuesday. The candidates debated in a town meeting format including foreign and domestic policy. The debate was held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, and was sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The moderator was CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley. Who do you think did the best job of making his case to the American people? Tell us what you think in the comments area below. See Also: So Who Won the First Presidential Debate? Biden-Ryan Vice Presidential Debate: Who Won?

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americanman

11:20 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012

You do realize George that the governments role is to protect the country not financially support the citizens, right? If a woman wants to be that active shall we say (to be kind) she should be able to afford her own contraceptives and if not don't participate. Government should have no place in our personal lives particularly paying for our extra curricular activities!   more ›