Turnout low, but higher than expected in Walker County school board runoff election

LAFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF)-  Early voting has concluded in a school board runoff race in Walker County.

The race is for the school board’s district three seat, which covers the entire county except for the city of Chickamauga.

Incumbent Tina Painter is facing off against Travis Q. Middleton after four candidates went for the seat in the general election earlier this month.

One of the main issues of the race for many voters is the future of superintendent Damon Raines, who found himself at the center of an effort to be removed from his position during a specially called meeting last month.

That effort failed as hundreds showed up to show their support for Raines.

So far, election officials such as Danielle Montgomery, who is the Director of Elections for Walker County, says turnout, while low, is higher than normal for this type of runoff election.

“It is a little better than we anticipated, we thought we might have only 30 people a day, but we are over 200 (total) at this point, and we still have over half a day to go,” she said.

Election Day in the contest is next Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

All 11 Walker County precincts will be open, and voters are asked to report to the polling location they are assigned to.