Early ballots ready

Absentee and advance voting ballots are available through Friday at Columbia County's Board of Elections office for the Aug. 10 statewide primary runoff election.

Voters who cast Democratic ballots in the July 20 primary may vote in the runoff for U.S. Senate between Denise Majette and Cliff Oxford, and in the non-partisan Georgia Court of Appeals runoff between Debra Bernes and Mike Sheffield, said Nancy Gay, Columbia County's voter registration coordinator.

The winner of the Senate race will face Republican Johnny Isakson in the November General Election to succeed the retiring U.S. Sen. Zell Miller. The winner of the Court of Appeals runoff will assume that post.

Voters who cast Republican primary ballots July 20 may vote only in the non-partisan Court of Appeals race, though voters who chose the non-partisan ballot July 20 may vote in both the Senate and Court of Appeals races if they choose a Democratic ballot, Gay said. Registered voters who did not vote in the primary may vote in both races if they choose a Democratic ballot.

Advance ballots may be cast from 8-5 today, Thursday and Friday at the Board of Elections office in the Columbia County Government Complex in Evans. Voters also may request absentee ballot applications. For information, call 868-3355.