Wilkes County voters are expected to turn out for Tuesday's primary to choose their party's nominees for a dozen statewide offices; and in Wilkes County's District 3 voters will choose which of three Rayle men will succeed the retiring Marshall Sherrer on the Wilkes County Board of Commissioners.

Danny Cosby, John E. Howard, and Jessie Williamson are on the Democratic Party ballot to fill the Wilkes County Commission seat for District 3 long held by Sherrer, and turnout for that race is expected to be good.

Wilkes County Democrats will also be able to vote for local attorney Michael Horgan, who will go up against the incumbent State Representative Mickey Channell in the 116th District in the November general election.

Channell recently joined the growing list of Georgia Democrats who have changed parties, following the lead of their conservative electorate. Georgia's Democrat leadership urged him to run, Horgan said, and the timing seemed right this year. "Mickey was elected as a Democrat," he said, "and the voters of District 116 have been electing him as a Democrat since 1992."

Polls will be open for the 2006 general primary election on Tuesday, July 18, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Wilkes County Supervisor of Elections Judge Jim Burton reminded the voting public that the primary is held to determine which candidates will represent the major parties on the election ballot. "That's the reason for the poll worker inquiring 'In which primary would you like to vote?'" he said.

In the General Election in November, however, a Georgia voter can mix his ballot to include candidates from both parties, as well as the nonpartisan candidates.

"The primary is the method that we use to nominate those who will appear on the election ballot in November," Judge Burton said. "A voter would be wise to prepare himself by studying the ballots in The News-Reporter (pages 4B and 5B) and the samples that are on display in the voting precinct on election day."

Advance voting began Monday and runs through tomorrow, Friday, July 14. Turnout has been light.

"Advance voting gives everyone a chance to vote in person before Election Day," Deb Anderson of the Registrar's office said, "and it's available in our office all this week. Friday, July 14 will be the last day you can cast your vote before Election Day."

The new changes in the Voter ID law have been held up by court order, so the requirements for identification at the polls is the same as in previous years - at least that's the case at press time. Court rulings between now and election day could require one of six types of ID: Georgia driver's license; valid identification card issued by any state or U.S. office with photo; valid U.S. passport; valid government employee photo ID; valid U.S. military ID card with photo; or a valid tribal ID card with photo.