Macon Leaders Urge Voters to Hit the Polls Early

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Local leaders stressed to the community that registered voters need to head to the polls.

Macon city councilman Lonnie Miley along with other community leaders wanted to make one thing clear.

“All of us have that one vote, we stand equal on Election Day to everybody else,” Miley said.

They say only 5,000 people had shown up through early voting on Tuesday.

That may seem like a lot, but compared to the 93,000 registered voters in Macon and Bibb County, leaders say that’s cause for concern.

“Just putting somebody in office, because of spite, or because we happen to disagree with one issue or the other, I think that’s wrong. We need to make sure that we are putting in office the best team that we can assemble,” Bibb Commissioner Lonzy Edwards said.

Edwards says he’s making a call to action, and wants the public to get the best possible representatives they can.

Some voters admit they were a little hesitant because of the recent confusion at the polls.

“I did think that maybe I should wait a little bit later to make sure that they got things ironed out, but I’m going to recognize my district so I will be able to catch it,” one voter said.

Other voters like Dawn Paul say the people can make a difference.

“If we want to complain about what happens in Macon, we’ve got to do something to be sure our vote is heard,” Paul said. “If we want a say in how its done, we’ve got to take the effort to come out and take care of business.”

All of the leaders who spoke on Wednesday say even if a third of the people get out to vote, that’s not enough, and if they want to see change, they’ve got to do it at the polls.

Early voting ends for the Macon -Bibb County consolidated government this Friday, and Election Day is September 17.