Majority of ballot is GOP

The state primary election is Tuesday, and many Columbia County Republicans are on the ballot.

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Contested races that voters will see, depending on their residence, might include incumbent Paul Broun and challenger Barry Fleming for U.S. Congress District 10; Lee Anderson and Brett McGuire for state House District 117; incumbent Ben Harbin and Lee Benedict for state House District 118; Deanne Hall and Charles Allen for County Commission District 3; and Scott Dean and David Payne for Commission District 4.

Unopposed candidates on the ballot include state Sen. Bill Jackson; state Rep. Barbara Sims; District 2 Commission candidate Trey Allen; Probate Judge Pat Hardaway; Chief Magistrate Wade Padgett; Sheriff Clay Whittle; Tax Commissioner Kay Allen; Clerk of Superior Court Cindy Mason; and Coroner Vernon Collins.

All the candidates are Republicans. No Democrats chose to run.

Both ballots contain poll questions and include races for U.S. Senate, public service commissioner and the nonpartisan special election for the county District 4 seat. Payne and Dean are vying to fill the unexpired term of Anderson, who stepped down to run for Fleming's state House seat when Fleming resigned to run for Congress.

Grovetown voters will see a nonpartisan race for city council between Barry Davis and Theo Knight. They are seeking to fill the unexpired term of David Daughtry, who died this year.

Columbia County Board of Elections officials predict a 20 percent voter turnout among the county's more than 68,000 active voters.

Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more on candidates, to see sample ballots or to find a precinct, call the Columbia County Board of Elections at (706) 868-3355 or go to www.columbiacountyga.gov.