THOMASVILLE — The 2008 political race keeps rolling this week with the start of advance voting for Thomas and Grady counties in anticipation of the July 15 primary.

“Advance voting is the week set aside before the next Tuesday’s election and is basically absentee voting without having to provide a reason,” said Lisa Ouzts, chief deputy registrar for Thomas County. “This way, anyone can come in and vote instead of trying to fit going to vote in their schedule on election day. Voters have five days to try to fit it into their schedules and this is a big help to those with tight schedules.”

Advance voting in Thomas County will be held at the Elijah Hill Building, 227 West Jefferson St., in the meeting room at the extension service, Ouzts said.

Advance voting in Grady County will be held at the registrar’s and tax commissioner’s new offices, in the Courthouse Annex at the Old United National Bank building, 114 First St. NE, behind the Grady County Courthouse, said Sadie Voyles, superintendent of elections.

Voting is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Voters must bring a proper photo I.D. to be able to cast a ballot.

“People have to show photo I.D. because this is a party election,” Vickie Burnette, superintendent of elections for Thomas County, explained. “People will have to chose which party they would like to vote with and must vote in whichever district they fall in. They have to know which commission seat, which senate district and those facts.”

There are no local races that will be decided in the primary (there are three local seats and one house seat in the general election in November, see box), but residents are still encouraged to vote and make their views count.

“We don’t have a lot of opposition this year (in the election), but I still encourage people to vote,” Burnette said.

The only race with opposition that will be decided in the primary in Grady County is chief magistrate.

“We still want people to vote,” Voyles said. “It is a historic year for voting and we’ve had a large number or residents register. It is time to exercise the right and privilege we have as Americans to vote.”