The Board of Elections posted new figures for early voting, and the number of ballots cast surpassed 100 for the first week as of close of business on Thursday.

Officials reported on Board of Elections site on Polkga.org that some 49 ballots have been cast in Cedartown, and another 70 at the Rockmart precinct bringing the overall total up to 119. One additional absentee ballot was also sought, bringing that total up to 25. None have yet been reported as sent back to the Board of Elections.

A final vote tally for the first week of Early Voting won’t be available until Saturday evening, when both precincts in Cedartown and Rockmart will be able to submit their first weekend voting tally alongside those already collected this week.

Voters can head to the polls on October 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the new precinct on Prior Street at the Goodyear Civic Center in Cedartown, or at the Nathan Dean Community Center on Goodyear Avenue in Rockmart.

Saturday’s voting day is the first of two mandatory weekend days where the polls are open to local residents who may otherwise be unable to make it during early voting or on November 7 for Election Day to cast a ballot. The second weekend voting date is next Saturday, October 28 at the same locations and for the same times listed above.

The whole county is voting this round on the extension in 2026 of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax already in place and collections past 2026 through 2032 of just under $65 million for multiple projects in the County, City of Cedartown, City of Rockmart and City of Aragon.

Voters in Rockmart are also being called to the polls to determine the next Mayor between incumbent Sherman Ross, and challengers James Payne and Cooley Austin. The trio took part in the Polk Today Candidate Forum on Monday, which you can watch here.

All Aragon candidates took part in the Tuesday Candidate Forum at City Hall as voters within the city limits will determine the fate of the Mayor’s race and three council seats. Seven candidates in total are vying for the positions.

In the Mayor’s Race, acting Mayor Judd Fee wants to keep the job for four years and will give up his council seat for the opportunity. He’s facing Stephen Wilson, a local business owner and Aragon resident.

Three council seats are now up for grabs, with Incumbent Donnie Canada the only one defending a seat and seeking a new four year term. He’s facing Ed Streetman and Gary Shindelbower as challengers for his and the seat being vacated by Fee.

In a Special Election to determine the final seat, Aragon residents will decide between Stephen Sanders and Tammy Kilgore to fill a two year term after it was left vacant since Fall of 2022 by the resignation of Daniel Johnson. The city decided not to hold a special election earlier and operate with the seat open to save money on the election this year.

Cedartown residents normally would be voting on two Commission seats this year, but Dale Tuck and newcomer Ryan Casey are both running unopposed.

The same goes for the Rockmart City Council, where Ward 2’s Marty Robinson and Ward 5’s Rick Stone are both unchallenged this year for new terms on the council heading into 2024.