Macon-Bibb decision day is at hand | Elections | Macon.com

If there is any worry that Bibb County voters might not show up for Tuesday’s Macon-Bibb County runoff election, they should be partly assuaged by the fact that more people turned out for six days of early voting this month than they did during 16 days of early voting leading up to the Sept. 17 election.

The Bibb County Board of Elections reported Monday that 9,937 advance and absentee voters cast ballots last week, up from the 9,760 early votes from the Sept. 17 election. Absentee ballots will be accepted until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

While the numbers don’t indicate which candidates are benefiting from the bump, they could help both mayoral candidates.

Macon Mayor Robert Reichert said his biggest worry is voter overconfidence and apathy of his supporters who might think his 7,000-vote advantage last month over his opponent, former Mayor C. Jack Ellis, would make Reichert a lock to win.

Reichert said he feels confident his supporters know the importance of their votes.

“We’re excited,” he said. “This is the culmination of a year’s worth of work. I hope everybody turns out to vote so the voice of the community can be heard. I feel energized because I’ve talked to so many people, and they know how important it is to go vote. It’s one thing to be for me, and another to vote for me. I appreciate the former, but I need the latter.”

Ellis said he thinks he can pick up more votes to close the gap by getting more people to the polls and picking up support among the voters’ whose candidates lost Sept. 17, such as Bibb County Chairman Sam Hart, who finished third in the mayor’s race.

“I’m not tired,” Ellis said. “I’m excited at the possibilities and for the future of the city and for our victory (Tuesday) night. … (The higher voter turnout is) a good sign. We’ve worked hard to get people out to the polls.”

Reichert has maintained a huge financial advantage over Ellis, according to the candidates’ disclosure forms turned in to the state Friday. Reichert raised $425,937 and spent $393,471 to get his message out to voters. By contrast, Ellis raised $84,125 and spent $76,712.

via Macon-Bibb decision day is at hand | Elections | Macon.com.