It’s entirely possible to overanalyze the essentially meaningless write-in votes in any given election – to write too much into it, if you will.

But certainly there are lessons that can be found, both for candidates and for potential challengers, from the long lists of names voters choose to type into the touch-screen ballots. In Columbia County, for example, the list of write-ins runs 89 pages.

Stunning. The Halloween night shooting of Kristen Burnette means that for the third time in less than two years, a 13-year-old Columbia County girl has been shot to death by a Columbia County boy. In each case, no adults were in the home at the time, and the boy was using a weapon taken from an absent adult.

In all three cases, families and friends on both sides have been devastated, and the broader community is stunned. Whatever can be done to prevent such tragedy clearly isn’t happening.

One thing that should be done: Introduce gun safety to children.

This editorial page has made it clear that we believe voters should reject Amendment 1, the charter schools question, which would allow state officials to grab control of public education from local communities and their elected leaders.

The issue might seem complicated. That’s why Craig Spinks, founder of Georgians for Educational Excellence, deserves praise for bringing both sides together to debate.

While much of the country was watching the debate between the two major parties’ presidential candidates Tuesday night, a handful of dimwits were engaging in a “debate” of their own.

Columbia County deputies have arrested three people, ranging in age from 17 to 29, for spray-painting a circled “X’ on campaign signs for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

The signs are shared with those of Congressional candidate Lee Anderson, but his were left untouched as the vandals focused their inartful commentary on the presidential race.