Decision 2006
By JARED PUTNAM

The issue of voter I.D. remains in limbo as Georgians return to the polls to decide a number of state and local races. Voters will not be required to present a photo i.d. as a ruling by a Fulton County Superior Court judge that deemed the law unconstitutional remains intact. Georgians may still present any of the 17 previously accepted methods of identification, such as a birth certificate or a Social Security card.

Among the more high profile races on ballot is the governor's race between Republican incumbent Sonny Perdue, Democrat challenger Lt. Governor Mark Taylor, and Libertarian Garrett Michael Hayes. Despite a slight drop in recent polls, Governor Perdue appears to maintain a comfort- able double digit lead over Lt. Governor Taylor.

The race for Lt. Governor is tighter, though once again the Republican candidate, Senator Casey Cagle, leads Democrat Jim Martin and Libertarian Allen Buckley in current polls.

On the local front three Union County Board of Education seats are on the ballot, though only one race is contested. In district 2 the race is between Independent Janet Hartman and Democrat Steve Odom.

A pair of Superior Court Judge races are also up for grabs in the Enotah Judicial Circuit, as

Incumbent David E. Barrett is challenged by James E. Palmour, while Rick Stancil and Lynn Alderman both seek to succeed retiring Judge Hugh W. Stone.

State Representative from the 8th District will also be determined Tuesday, in a battle between Incumbent Democrat Charles Jenkins and Republican challenger Frank Wheeler.

Advanced voting concludes this Friday, November 3, while standard voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7.