On a day when Georgia’s 76 delegates for the Republican Presidential nomination are up for grabs and DeKalb County decides whether to allow Sunday alcohol sales, relatively few voters made it to the polls in Stone Mountain before lunch time.
Most voters interviewed said they were drawn to the polls for the Republican primary, though a few identified the Sunday sales referendum as their reason for voting. Nearly all described voting as a “duty.”
H. Peacock, 75, of Tucker, said, “[It’s] my philosophy. I always vote.”
Sue Kellogg Library in Stone Mountain had yet to reach three percent turnout at 11:30 a.m. – a number marginally higher than neighboring precincts.
Reuben Mobley, 86, cast his ballot for Newt Gingrich at the library, saying he agreed with Gingrich’s positions on a number of issues. “Romney’s got the money,” Mobley said. “He can buy the media.” Mobley accused Romney of using his media exposure to propagate lies. “Newt’s not doing that.” Of Gingrich, Mobley added, “he’ll stand up to Obama.”
In Tucker, turnout was approaching nine percent at on Main Street and picked up significantly during the lunch hour. By 1 p.m. had nearly 15% turnout.
Jason Durham, 36, said he voted yes to Sunday sales and for Mitt Romney. Durham identified himself as “more Libertarian” than Republican and said he chose Romney because he is “not as drastic as any of the other candidates.” Durham said, “I don’t think he [Romney] leans too far one way or the other.” Durham said that while he believes Romney will get the Republican nomination, he still has not decided which way he will vote in the general election.
One Tucker Democrat who showed up to vote “yes” for Sunday sales admitted to picking up a Republican ballot. She also believed that unless Democrats were inspired to participate in the Republican primary that Sunday sales had a diminished chance of being approved.
