High Oconee Turnout Rate Impacted Outcomes Of Legislative Races

In terms of number of registered voters, Oconee County is smaller that all four of the counties with which it shares legislative districts for the General Assembly in Atlanta.

In last Tuesday’s elections, however, a higher percentage of Oconee County voters cast a ballot than in any of those other four counties.

As a result, Oconee County voters had inordinate influence on the election outcomes in the races won by Bill Cowsert in the 46th Senate District, by Houston Gaines in the 117th House District, and by Marcus Wiedower in the 119th House District. All are Republicans.

In the 119th House District, Oconee County’s high vote turnout in comparison with Clarke County’s almost certainly produced Wiedower’s victory.

In that race, Clarke County voters not only turned out in low numbers, but many of them skipped the race between Wiedower and incumbent Democrat Jonathan Wallace, giving Oconee County voters even greater influence on the election outcome.

Differential turnout rates also explain how Oconee County voters helped Republicans capture the two House seats they lost to Democrats a year ago.

For details of the impact of turnout on these Senate and House races, please go to Oconee County Observations.