LATEST: Click here to view the final vote results for polling in McDuffie County.
With just two hours left to vote before the polls close in McDuffie County, voting is expected to surge between now and then, according to elections officials.
"I'm expecting a pretty big surge of voting between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., as people get off work and things like that," said Sandra Martin, a poll manager at the Thomson Depot, located off Railroad Street.
As of 4 p.m., that precinct had voted 291 persons.
"Everything has been gone very smooth here today," added Ms. Martin.
Elsewhere in the county, elections officials were reporting no problems with long lines or voting machine problems.
Eleanor Wilson, a poll manager at the McDuffie County Fire/Rescue Services Headquarters, off Salem Road, said 445 voters had cast ballots as of 4:40 p.m. today.
"Everything has been fine so far," said Ms. Wilson. "I just hope the lines don't back late."
There are six voting machines at that particular precinct.
Jimmy Mims, assistant poll manager there, said, on average that it has been taking voters between three and five minutes to cast ballots.
"I think they pretty much have an idea of who they want to vote for by the time they get here to the polls," said Mr. Mims.
McDuffie County Elections Director Phyllis Wheeler said more than 5,000 voters took part in early voting and that coupled with the figures from today's voting that she expects the turnout to be a whopping 85 percent when all the numbers are tallied.
"That would definitely be a record since I've been here," said Ms. Wheeler.
Rep.Sistie Hudson, who is being challenged for her District 124 seat in the Georgia House of Representatives by Thomson resident Scott Nutial, said, "I'm hoping for the best. I've enjoyed the day going around the district to see how voting has been going."
Rep. Hudson, a Democrat, who lives in Hancock County, is seeking her seventh term in office. Mr. Nutial, on the other hand, is a first-time political candidate and hoping to stage what political observers say would be an upset win.
Another political candidate, Martha Teamer, who is seeking the 5th District Seat on the McDuffie County Board of Education, spent almost all day getting in some last minute campaigning. From 10 a.m. this morning, Mrs. Teamer has been posted at the McDuffie County Fire/Rescue Headquarters precinct, waving to perspective voters as they drove into the parking lot.
She's vying to win the seat currently held by Virginia Bradshaw. Two other candidates also are seeking that same seat. They include Greg Derry and Frank Locklear.
"I'm neutral in this election," said Mrs. Teamer. "I don't have anybody close to me working in the school system and I don't have any children. I'm not intimidated by anybody."
Mrs. Teamer said, if elected, that she would serve in a "dedicated" and "serious manner."
Ginny Ricks and her husband, Dale, meanwhile, have spent the entire day working as volunteers on behalf of BOE Super District 2 Seat candidate Bob Smith. Mrs. Ricks has been stationed at the county fire headquarters, while Mr. Ricks worked as a campaign volunteer at the Marshall Baptist Church polling precinct.
Mrs. Ricks said she was supporting Mr. Smith, former principal for 19 years at Thomson High School because "I know him to be such a fair person. He was my boss for all of those years. He is a well-oiled machine for education. He will work full-throttle."
Mr. Smith is opposing incumbent school board member Paul Leroy, who is seeking a second four-year term.
