DALTON, Ga. -- Voter turnout has fallen so low in North Georgia, national and statewide candidates show up in Whitfield County only to raise money and ask for votes, but they rarely hear the district's collective voice.
That's the view of Dalton Mayor David Pennington, who is spearheading a massive get-out-the-vote effort for this summer's statewide and congressional elections.
Earlier this month, during a special election to elect a new U.S. congressman for the 9th District, Dalton ranked in the bottom half of the 15-county district with an 11 percent turnout, state figures show. Tiny Pickens County, which has fewer than half as many registered voters as Whitfield, had nearly double the turnout with 20 percent showing up on May 11, figures show.
"We have a powerful economic influence here, but we rank very poorly on voter participation," Mr. Pennington said. "Candidates know they can come here and raise money, but because of our voter turnout, our collective voice is not heard."
In small Southern towns, voters turn out in force only for presidential elections and those in which the county sheriff shows up on the ballot, said Kay Staten, the Whitfield election registrar.
"I don't know why that is," Ms. Staten said. "The congressional races and the governor have just as much influence on our lives."
Ms. Staten, who has served since 1991, said the 11 percent turnout for the contest in May is just about average.
"If (Mr. Pennington) can get more people out, I think that's great," she said.
Mr. Pennington is planning a media campaign, speaking to potential voters in both print and media advertisements. He plans to distribute yard signs that simply say "Please Vote," and he's also coordinating with schools and large employers to urge voter registration.
A group of private citizens will be paying for the campaign, he said. None of the money will come from city funds, he said.
He said he wants to both register new voters and encourage inactive voters to get to the polls. Voters who are not registered now cannot vote in the upcoming congressional runoff, but they can vote in August primaries.
Mr. Pennington said the voter drive is completely nonpartisan, though he does say that if North Georgians had voted in higher numbers, he believes the June 8 Republican runoff would have been a contest between Chickamauga businessman Steve Tarvin and Ranger developer Tom Graves. Instead, it's a contest between Mr. Graves and Gainesville dentist Lee Hawkins, both from the southern part of the district.
And that same pattern could play out in the Georgia gubernatorial contest, he said. Former 9th District Rep. Nathan Deal is running for governor and, if he ends up in runoff or a general election battle with a candidate from Atlanta or South Georgia, Northwest Georgia could have a powerful voice, Mr. Pennington said.
And politics aside, having Mr. Deal in office "would be important, because we've worked so closely with him already," Mr. Pennington said.
Continue reading by following these links to related stories:
Article: Interest, turnout key in regional primary races