Lincoln County residents are asked to make their voices heard by voting in the Presidential Preference Primary set for Tuesday, February 5. Remember, one lone vote elected Thomas Jefferson president in 1800. For more information about the election process, contact the Lincoln County Board of Elections and Voter Registration at 706-359-6126. Lincoln County residents are encouraged to get out and vote in the Presidential Preference Primary Tuesday, February 5.

Kelvin Williams, executive director of the Lincoln County Board of Elections and Voter Registration, is predicting a 27-percent overall turnout for the county. Voter turnout for the 2004 Presidential Preference Primary was 23 percent.

Since Georgia does not register voters by party, the primary is "open," and voters must choose either a Democratic or a Republican ballot. However, electors are not required to keep this same preference in the subsequent General Primary and General Election.

Presidential candidates appearing on the Democratic ticket are Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis J. Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson.

The Republican ballot is comprised of Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson.

Polls will be open in Lincoln County from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Those who are physically disabled or 75 years of age or older may vote without waiting in line between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Moreover, Georgia law now requires residents to present photo identification at their polling places prior to voting. The acceptable forms of identification are:

.. A Georgia driver's license, even if it has expired.

.. Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free voter ID card, issued by the Georgia Department of Driver Services or the Lincoln County Board of Elections and Registration.

.. A valid United States passport.

.. A valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state.

.. A valid United States military photo ID.

.. A valid tribal photo ID.

Photo identification, for the purpose of voting only, may be obtained at the elections and registration office during regular business hours - even on Election Day. The office is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The polling places are as follows:

.. Precinct 1-A - The building beside Midway Volunteer Fire Department on Midway Church Road, off of Highway 79.

.. Precinct 1-B - The Lincolnton Clubhouse on N. Washington Street.

.. Precinct 2 - The Lincoln Center at 160 May Avenue.

.. Precinct 3-A - Faith Temple, located at the intersection of Leathersville Road and the Thomson Highway.

.. Precinct 3-B - Tabernacle Baptist Church on Highway 220 West.

.. Precinct 4-A - Bethany United Methodist Church on Bethany Church Road.

.. Precinct 4-B - The voting booth beside Tankersley's Store on Double Branches Road.

Voters are encouraged to call the elections and voter registration office if they are unsure of their precinct location or voter registration status. Electors, who are currently listed as inactive, are eligible to vote and will be reinstated as active voters.

Citizens should also keep in mind that advance voting began at the elections and voter registration office on Monday, January 28, will continue through Friday, February 1. During this time, electors may cast their ballots with no reason or explanation required.

All the voter has to do is fill out an advance voting application and provide the poll official with one of the permitted forms of identification. He will then be issued a ballot to cast right there in the office.

Concerning absentee ballots, the deadline for requesting that an absentee ballot be mailed to one's residence is Friday, February 1.

Applications for absentee ballots must contain the address to which the ballot is to be mailed as well as sufficient information, such as a signature or date of birth, to identify the individual as a registered voter. Electors are likewise asked to include their telephone number on the application.

All absentee ballots should be returned to the elections and registration office by 5 p.m. Monday, February 4. An absentee ballot may be hand-delivered by a second party, only if the voter is disabled.

For more information about the election process, call the elections and registration office at 706-359-6126 or visit the agency's website at www.lincolncountygaelections.com.