and J. FRANK LYNCH

[email protected]

With the interest level in this year's presidential election reaching

a fever pitch, the number of people who have registered to vote in Fayette

County is expected to be a record.

Carolyn Combs, head of the Fayette County Board of Elections, said she won't

have final figures until the state sends a list at the end of this week,

but she anticipates the county will have more voters on the rolls this year

than ever before.

The final day to register to vote in the Nov. 2 election was Oct. 5.

Though the figures are unofficial, information posted on the Internet by

Secretary of State Cathy Cox showed Fayette had 59,714 voters as of Oct.

7.

Like the rest of the state and nation, the majority of Fayette's registered

voters are women. Whites make up 81 percent of Fayette voters, while blacks

represent 13.6 percent. Asian and Hispanic voters make up the remaining 5.2

percent.

The number of registered voters in Peachtree City has broken the 20,000

mark for the first time, preliminary reports indicate.

According to information posted by Cox, as of Oct. 2 Peachtree City had

20,161 voters or about 34 percent of Fayette County's total. That would

mirror Peachtree City's share of the county's population as a whole.

Fayetteville had 7,475 voters as of Oct. 2, and Tyrone reported 3,037.

The full report can be found at www.sos.state.ga.us.

With huge lines expected at the polls on Nov. 2, many voters are already

plotting their election-day strategy.

In-office absentee voting is already being conducted at the Fayette County

Elections Office located in the Stonewall Village administrative complex

in Fayetteville.

It will continue through Nov. 1 for voters who meet statutory requirements

such as age 75 or older, disability or who will be absent from the precinct

on election day.

Mail absentee voting is also available through Oct. 29 for those who are

unable to come to the Elections Office and who meet the same criteria as

above. Absentee ballots will be mailed to voters upon request, or can be

downloaded from the county's Web site. The final day for ballots to

be mailed is Oct. 29.

Finally, advance voting will take place in the Elections Office Oct. 25

through Oct. 29 for voters who wish to vote early and have one of the statutory

reasons that apply to traditional absentee voting.

But whenever you decide to vote, make sure you have one of the 17 proper

forms of identification approved by the state. Positive identification will

make the process smoother, and voters will not have to fill out any additional

forms.

Interestingly, your voter ID card is not one of the forms of identification

accepted.

"It's really strange that it isn't accepted," Combs

admitted.

Combs said the voter ID card is mainly used to show residents which precinct

they need to head to and vote.

According to state officials, the following constitute a valid ID:

- A valid Georgia driver's license.

- A valid identification card issued by a branch, department, or agency

of the state of Georgia, any other state, or the United States.

- A valid United States passport.

- A valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the

voter and issued by any branch, department, agency of the United States government,

the state of Georgia, or any Georgia county, municipality, board, or authority.

- A valid employee identification card containing a photograph of the

voter.

- A valid student identification card containing a photograph of the

voter from any public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical

or professional school located within Georgia.

- A valid Georgia license to carry a pistol or revolver.

- A valid pilot's license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration

or other authorized agency of the United States.

- A valid United States military identification card.

- A certified copy of the voter's birth certificate.

- A valid Social Security card.

- Certified naturalization documentation.

- A certified copy of court records showing adoption, name, or sex

change.

- A current utility bill showing the voter's name and address.

- A bank statement showing the voter's name and address.

- A government check or paycheck showing the voter's name and

address.

- A government document showing the voter's name and address.

State officials said that voters who arrive at polling locations without

any of the identifications listed above should request a yellow affidavit

form, "Statement of Elector in Place of Required Identification," from

one of the poll workers. The voter can sign the form and then vote.