Absentee ballots are available
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Absentee ballots are now available for voting in the Feb. 5 Presidential Preference Primary election and also the local Special Election. The Special Election will determine whether or not the present one-cent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) should be continued.

Absentee ballots are available in the office of the Jenkins County Registrar at the Jenkins County Courthouse. All rules and regulations governing the voting of absentee ballots apply.

Advance voting will take place Monday, Jan. 28, through Friday, Feb. 1. During this time, absentee ballots may be voted at the Jenkins County Courthouse without having to declare a reason for doing so.

Democratic candidates for President of the United States appearing on the ballot are: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis J. Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson.

Republican candidates on the ballot are: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo and Fred Thompson.

Voters will simply vote "yes" or "no" in the Special Election to determine whether or not to extend the one-cent SPLOST for another six years.

The total anticipated SPLOST revenue expected to be generated over the six-year period, pending voter approval is $6 million. The funds would be used by the Jenkins County Commissioners and City of Millen to fund capital improvement projects with the county receiving 65 percent and the city 35 percent.

Included in county projects is $1 million for a new jail, $800,000 for roads and bridges improvements and $528,000 for industrial park improvements. City projects include $420,000 for a water tank, $420,000 for water and sewer improvements and $435,000 for the Road Department.

Anyone who was registered to vote as of Monday, Jan. 7, may vote in this election.