Large crowd turns out for Sunday vote in Dougherty County

ALBANY — Detractors who labeled the addition of a four-hour Sunday voting period in Dougherty County a “gimmick” will have a hard time denying the results of the historic vote held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the downtown Riverfront Resource Center.

Four hundred ninety-nine voters cast ballots during the four-hour period, catching many elections officials off-guard with a turnout that Dougherty Elections Board Chairman Commodore Conyers said “proved there was a need for a Sunday vote.”

Conyers and board member Walter Blankenship reversed their votes after the Elections Board was asked to reconsider an initial 4-1 decision not to OK the extra day of voting when the state said it could be allowed.

“I certainly feel heartened by this amazing turnout; it’s really exciting,” Conyers said as a long line of voters waited patiently to cast ballots. “I voted — and the board decided — to reverse our initial decision because a large number of voters made it clear that they wanted the opportunity to vote on Sunday. What we were told was that (the extra day) was needed. The voters proved that today.”

Blankenship, whose vote change has drawn fire from the local and state Republican party, which appointed him to his position on the Elections Board, said he expected a sizeable turnout, but not to the extent that came out Sunday.

“Having our voters come to the polls, that’s what this process is all about,” Blankenship said. “The spirit here has been great, there’s a lot of excitement. Everyone’s been extraordinarily patient despite waiting in long lines.”

Ivan and Gail Solomon were two of the voters who came to the resource center to cast their ballots Sunday. They said they were looking forward to voting in the statewide and local races.

“We didn’t particularly wait for Sunday, it was just easier for us,” Gail Solomon said. “We both work during the week, so it was easy for us to come down here Sunday after church.”

Dougherty Elections Supervisor Ginger Nickerson said she was not surprised by the large turnout and that the process was running as smoothly as possible.

“We had a state investigator come in and approve everything, and we’ve had a poll watcher assigned to keep an eye on everything,” Nickerson said. “Everyone’s being very patient.”

Poll watcher Joseph Brannan of Columbus said he’d been appointed by the state to keep an eye on the process in Albany. He said he’d seen no irregularities.

“Dougherty County is the only county in Southwest Georgia to hold Sunday voting, but watchers have been assigned at every place in the state where there’s Sunday voting,” Brannan said. “I’m not really watching for anything in particular.

“What I’ve seen so far is that the Elections staff has done a very good job of conducting the voting. I don’t think they or anyone was really prepared for this big a turnout, but they have worked diligently to keep the process moving.”

Dougherty County Commissioner Clinton Johnson, who asked the Elections Board to reconsider its initial vote not to allow Sunday voting, smiled broadly as he watched the voters stream into the Riverfront Resource Center.

“I think (the Elections Board) took the right side in this matter,” he said. “Today proves that the Democratic process works in Dougherty County. A need was definitely met here today.”

Constance Burkes, the chairwoman of the local Democratic party and a strong advocate for the Sunday day of voting, praised the Dougherty County Commission for its work in providing for the Saunday vote.

“I want to commend the County Commission for taking the lead in making this day possible,” Burkes said. “I think (the Sunday vote) was particularly needed in Dougehrty County because access (to the resource center) was interrupted for a large part of Saturday because of Albany State University’s homecoming parade downtown.

“I also want to praise the faith-based leaders in the community who stepped up and got their congregations to take part in the process.”

Nickerson said 120 early ballots were cast at the resource center on Saturday.