A Lesson Learned:

Observations Regarding the July 15 Runoff Election

By Paul Bolster

Usually, runoff elections have a lower turnout than the first vote. The PSC statewide runoff election was unusual because there was only one position on the ballot and the election was in the middle of vacation season. It is most surprising to political observers that all but one of The Porch Press precincts had a significantly higher turnout for the runoff. Clearly endorsements for one candidate from most of the elected officials from our area was a big difference, and the Hubbard campaign put lots of effort into our part of town.

But how do you explain the Ormewood Church (1B) precinct? Its vote total went up 112 votes and it had the highest number of votes in the county. The turnout percentage was 11%, the second highest in the county. The county-wide was 3% in Fulton and 5% in DeKalb. This precinct, 1B, had the highest number of votes out of 2400 precincts in the state, according to political operative Clarence Blaylock. The next highest number of votes came from Candler Park. That precinct had 511 votes and 1B had 515. Maybe the governor should have an award for this achievement.

Maybe it shows what neighbor-to-neighbor engagement can accomplish. Volunteers for SE Atlanta Neighbors called all the 1B voters who had voted in the general PSC election and had not “early voted” in the runoff with a simple reminder. Folks texted back their thanks and said they had passed the reminder on to friends in the neighborhood. Calls also went to Parkside Elementary voters and they were close behind 1B with an 8% turnout. See the numbers below.

* North Ormewood and Reynoldstown.