Juliette Voters Oppose Closure of Local Precincts

JULIETTE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Voters in Juliette are not happy about a proposal to close two of their conveniently-located precincts.

Jones County commissioners held a public forum tonight to debate that issue with citizens. Voting Superintendent Marion Hatton suggested they close the White and Sanders precincts, because keeping them open just isn’t cost effective.

Juliette only has 153 registered voters, and Hatton says many of them don’t show up during smaller elections.

She also tells us closing the precincts will save the county $600 per election, but faithful voters say the closures will be harder on them financially.

“That’s doubling the price of gas and it’s kind of unaffordable,” says voter Glenn McMichael. “There’s waste in all parts of the government, so $600 is just a drop in the grand scheme of things.”

“In most elections we have 5 people…5 very faithful voters that do come to this precinct,” Hatton says of the Sanders precinct. “During a general election, especially a presidential election, we’ll have between 80 and a hundred.”

Hatton suggests Juliette residents mail in their ballots to cut travel expenses. Residents also told commissioners they don’t feel adequately represented, and that their portion of Jones county gets brushed aside when it comes to road repairs and other expenses.