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ZEBULON - Out of 12,212 voters in Pike County, 8,552 voters cast their ballots in this election. That is a phenomenal turnout of 70.03% in Pike County! There were 13 provisional ballots that could affect the final count on this election when the election is certified by the Secretary of State's Office on Tuesday.
39% of the ballots that were cast in this election were cast by absentee ballot with 304 ballots (2.49%) being cast in by mail and 4,485 ballots (36.73%) being cast in early voting at the polls.
How does this 70.03% turnout compare to past voting years? These are numbers from my unofficial Election Summary Reports over the years. The official numbers from the Secretary of State's Office might differ a little because of overseas and provisional ballots, but these numbers wouldn't be off by much.
There were 11,756 registered voters in the May 22, 2018 General Election. In that election, 2,794 voters cast their votes for a voter turnout of 23.77%.
There were 10,620 registered voters in the November 8, 2016 General Election. In that election, 8,787 voters cast their votes for a voter turnout of 82.74%.
There were 10,157 registered voters in the November 4, 2014 General Election. In that election, 5,707 voters cast their votes for a voter turnout of 56.19%.
There were 10,630 registered voters in the November 6, 2012 General Election. In that election, 8,151 voters cast their votes for a voter turnout of 76.68%.
There were 10,275 registered voters in the November 2, 2010 General Election. In that election, 5,847 voters cast their votes for a voter turnout of 56.91%.
There were 10,350 registered voters in the November 4, 2008 General Election. In that election, 8,236 voters cast their votes for a voter turnout of 79.57%.
I do not have numbers for the November 2006 General Election. I may have been at an Election party that night.
There were 8,303 registered voters in the November 2, 2004 General Election. In that election, 6,767 voters cast their votes for a voter turnout of 81.50%.
A review of these numbers shows that Pike County usually has a large number of people who care enough to exercise their right to vote in November elections and that 70% is high, but it isn't the highest that we've ever seen. Thank you to everyone who took the time to get educated and vote for your candidates. It matters.
The final totals are as follows:
In the Meansville Mayoral election, 68 total votes were cast in the first election in Meansville in 16 years. Virlon Rachels received 40 votes and Randall Parker received 28 votes. Virlon Rachels is the new Mayor of Meansville.
These state races will be updated tomorrow since only 90% of the precincts have reported in at 12:15 a.m.
Updated 11.7.18 from the Secretary of State's Office website.
In the race for Governor, 7,315 voters (85.69%) cast their votes for Brian Kemp (R), 1,162 voters (13.61%) cast their votes for Stacey Abrams (D), and 57 voters (.67%) cast their votes for Ted Metz (L). Pike County voted for Brian Kemp.
Brian Kemp (R) received 50.33% of the vote with 1,973,098 votes on his behalf.
Stacey Abrams (D) received 48.73% of the vote with 1,910,388 on her behalf.
Ted Metz (L) received 0.95% of the vote with 37,088 on his behalf.
In the race for Lt. Governor, 7,129 voters (86.12%) cast their votes for Geoff Duncan (R), and 1,144 voters (13.82%) cast their votes for Sarah Riggs Amico (D). Pike County voted for Geoff Duncan.
Geoff Duncan (R) received 51.74% of the vote with 1,946,303 votes on his behalf.
Sarah Riggs Amico (D) received 48.26% of the vote with 1,815,736 votes on her behalf.
In the race for Secretary of State, 7,078 voters (83.94%) cast their votes for Brad Raffensperger (R), 1,205 voters (14.29%) cast their votes for John Barrow (D), and 147 voters (1.74%) cast their votes for Smythe Duval (L). Pike County voted for Brad Raffensperger.
Brad Raffensperger (R) received 49.19% of the vote with 1,901,463 votes on his behalf.
John Barrow (D) received 48.58% of the vote with 1,877,742 votes on his behalf.
Smythe Duval (L) received 2.23% of the vote with 86,109 votes on his behalf.
This race will likely go into the December 4, 2018 runoff. (Public Service Commission, District 3 - Metro-Atlanta looks like a runoff as well.) You can look at the final unofficial results by clicking here.
In the race for Attorney General, 7,162 voters (85.27%) cast their votes for Chris Carr (R), and 1,233 voters (14.68%) cast their votes for Charlie Bailey (D). Pike County voted for Chris Carr.
Chris Carr (R) received 51.40% of the vote with 1,976,050 votes on his behalf.
Charlie Bailey (D) received 48.60% of the vote with 1,868,170 votes on his behalf.
In the race for US House 3, 7,254 voters (86.32%) cast their votes for Drew Ferguson (R), and 1,147 voters (13.65%) cast their votes for Chuck Enderlin (D). Pike County voted for Drew Ferguson.
At 11:30 p.m. 85% of the precincts have reported their results to the Secretary of State's Office. Republican Drew Ferguson has received 173,822 votes and 67.21% of the vote. Democrat Chuck Enderlin has received 84,798 votes and 32.79% of the vote.
**Update 12:15 a.m. 100% of the precincts have reported. Drew Ferguson received 191,238 (65.75%) of the vote and Chuck Enderlin received 99,626 (34.25%) of the total vote. Republican Drew Ferguson is the winner of this race.
In the race for State Senate 16, 7,219 voters (85.96%) cast their votes for Marty Harbin (R), and 1,175 voters (13.99%) cast their votes for Bill Lightle (D). Pike County voted for Marty Harbin.
At 11:07 p.m. the Secretary of State's Office is reporting that 100% of the precincts have reported and Republican Marty Harbin is the winner of this race. Marty Harbin received 53,159 votes and 68.17% of the race. Bill Lightle received 24,826 votes and 31.83% of the total vote.
In the race for State House 131, 7,269 voters (86.28%) cast their votes for Ken Pullin (R), and 1,154 voters (13.70%) cast their votes for Chris Benton (D). Pike County voted for Ken Pullin.
At 10:57 p.m. the Secretary of State's website is showing Republican Ken Pullin as the winner of this race. Ken Pullin received 16,308 votes and 73.74% of the total vote. Chris Benton received 5,808 votes and 26.26% of the total vote.
Votes in Pike County cast their votes on Constitutional Amendments and Referendums in this election.
Constitutional Amendment 1 would create the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund to protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and parks. In Pike County, 6424 voters (77.41%) voted yes and 1,875 voters (22.59%) voted no.
Constitutional Amendment 2 would create a state-wide business court to lower costs, enhance efficiency, and promote predictable judicial outcomes. In Pike County, 5,135 voters (63.54%) voted yes and 2,946 (36.46%) voted no.
Constitutional Amendment 3 would encourage the conservation, sustainability, and longevity of Georgia's working forests through tax subclassification and grants. In Pike County, 4,600 voters (57.49%) voted yes and 3,401 (42.51%) voted no.
Constitutional Amendment 4 would provide constitutional rights for victims of crime in the judicial process. In Pike County, 6,060 voters (73.32%) voted yes and 2,205 (26.68%) voted no.
Constitutional Amendment 5 would authorize the fair allocation of sales tax proceeds to county and city school districts. In Pike County, 4,950 voters (61.56%) voted yes and 3,091 (38.44%) voted no.
Referendum A would provide a homestead exemption for residents of certain municipal corporations. In Pike County, 4,004 voters (50.42%) voted yes and 3,937 (49.58%) voted no.
Referendum B would provide a tax exemption for certain homes for the mentally disabled. In Pike County, 5,558 voters (68.19%) voted yes and 2,593 (31.81%) voted no.
Thank you to everyone who threw your hat into the ring to run for office this go around, and thank you to everyone who took the time to get out and vote! We should have 70% turnout in every election!
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