VALDOSTA — The nine-day early voting period is scheduled to kick off at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Supervisor of Elections Deb Cox said that all registered voters who are ready to cast their ballots are encouraged to stop by the Lowndes County Board of Elections, located at 2808 N. Oak St., between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 23.

Cox said that Lowndes County has nearly 57,000 registered voters. She does not know how many of them will participate in the nine-day early voting period this year but noted that last year over half of the county’s registered voters cast early ballots.

A five-day advance voting period will follow the early voting period. Cox said that registered voters in Lowndes County will be able to cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 26-30 at the Lowndes County Board of Elections or 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Valdosta State University in the University Center Executive Dining Room.

The Valdosta State University precinct was a joint effort of the campus’s College Democrats, College Republicans and Cox.

A total of 33 candidates qualified in September to have their names placed on ballots, seeking one of 19 offices available during the 2009 county-wide elections. Cox said that 10 of those candidates had no opposition and will be certified on Friday, Nov. 6, in accordance with the Official Code of Georgia, Section 21-2-285j. This includes Alvin Payton Jr., Valdosta City Council District 4; David W. Bullard Sr., City of Hahira mayor; Kenneth E. Allen, City of Dasher mayor; Julian Q. Copeland Jr., Dasher City Council Post 1; Walker K. Sandlin, City of Lake Park mayor; Albert R. Carter, Lake Park City Council; Paul R. Mulkey, Lake Park City Council; Eric Schindler, Lake Park City Council; Jeffery L. Spradley, Lake Park City Council; and Vanassa L. Flucas, Valdosta Board of District 2.

In early September, the Lowndes County Board of Elections officially gave notice that the Lake Park elections had been canceled due to the candidates having no opposition.

The Valdosta Daily Times was notified by Cox last week that Rodney R. Flucas, candidate for Valdosta City Council District 2, dropped out of the race — for some unknown reason.

Calls to him Friday to learn more were not returned at press time.

The remaining 22 candidates were contacted and asked to tell voters which things the Valdosta City Council, Hahira City Council, Dasher City Council or Valdosta Board of Education does well and what needs more attention, why they are the right man or woman for the job, why they are seeking office, what they do in the community and for fun, and a little about their professional life. A total of 19 of them responded.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

• QUICK INFO

Early Voting: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct. 13-23, Lowndes County Board of Elections

Advance Voting: 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Lowndes County Board of Elections or 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Valdosta State University, Oct. 26-30