Advanced Voting Turnout for Oconee County Education Tax Lower Than for Most Recent Tax Election

Only 352 people, representing just 1.5 percent of those eligible, turned out during the 15 days of for the ballot issue.

In March of 2009, the last time Oconee County had a tax issue on the ballot, a slightly higher 1.8 percent of registered voters cast ballots during the 21 days of early voting, and, ultimately 6.6 percent of those eligible decided the issue.

The decision in March of 2009 was--and the decision on Tuesday is--to continue a sales tax of one cent on the dollar for each purchase in the county.

The last time a tax issue was on the ballot in November in Oconee County was in 2003, when, as is the case on Tuesday, the ballot did not contain any other county-wide issues or decisions on any candidates.

That year, 10.2 percent of the registered votes turned out.

The early voting and historical turnout data suggest that somewhere between 6 and 10 percent of the county's voters are likely to decide if the school tax is renewed.

Voters in the city of Bogart will be selecting two candidates from among three running for two open seats on the city council.

Watkinsville city voters will be selecting a new mayor, with two candidates seeking the job.

For more information on the turnout and the elections, go to Oconee County Observations.