Commerce holding special election Tuesday

They’ll vote at either North Minish (Commerce Recreation Office, Carson Street) or South Minish (J. Nolan Spear Jr. Public Safety Complex, South Elm Street) in the presidential and congressional races and for the amendments to the Georgia Constitution. But for the city special election — the Ward 1 race and the referendum on expansion of the homestead exemption on school taxes — all Commerce residents will cast ballots at the public safety complex, which is also the South Minish precinct. Those items will be on a separate ballot.

Three candidates are vying for the unexpired Ward 1 council seat formerly held by Wayne Gholston, who vacated the council when he purchased a house in Ward 5. The candidates are Keith Burchett, Archie D. Chaney Jr. and Aretha Hill. It is a nonpartisan election.

Voters in each school district will also decide whether to expand the homestead exemption on education taxes for low-income citizens. If the measure passes, taxpayers 65 and older with less than $18,000 in annual income would see an extra $20,000 in exemptions. Commerce voters will cast ballots at the public safety complex, regardless of where they voted in the presidential election.
The city election will be held in a bay at the public safety complex.

All polling precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. but early voting will continue through Friday at City Hall for the Ward 1 and the referendum on the homestead exemption. Hours are 9:00 to 5:00.