Carroll County voters return to the polls today for the fourth time this year, and while officials agree the SPLOST referendum on the ballot is paramount to the immediate future of the county’s infrastructure, the local election supervisor said it is unlikely to garner much turnout.

“With this type of election it’s hard to get people to turn out,” said Board of Election Supervisor Patti Brown-Traylor. “It’s a special election, and to be honest, people have voted so much this year, they’re just tired of voting, and special elections don’t usually generate a very high turnout in general.”

If early voting results reflect on today’s turnout, Traylor’s prediction would be right.

Despite the rules for early voting being changed to allow voting 45 days before an election, only 526 people cast their ballot before last Friday’s cutoff, Traylor said. This translates into less than 1 percent of the county’s 53,000-person electorate.

In addition to SPLOST, the District 6 seat on the Carroll County Board of Commissioners is up for grabs today. Republicans George Chambers and Billy Hyatt square off against Democrat Tommy Robinson, with the winner filling the seat held by Herman Ayers, who vacated the seat when he announced his candidacy for the chairmanship in early May.

While the District 6 election may increase turnout within the district, the fact that only one race is on the ticket will likely mean more voters stay home, said Commissioner Bill Head.

“The only other thing on the ballot is the position for District 6,” Head said. “So I do think there will be a low voter turnout.”

All this despite the possibility the $103 million estimated 6-year revenue for the tax could become little more than numbers on paper if voters decide against the referendum.

The county will receive $67 million of the funds, with Carrollton receiving the next highest at $21 million, followed by Villa Rica at $6.7 million.

To qualify for the funds, the county and the municipalities were required to determine where the money will go, and extensive plans for the money have long-since been made, with it slated to go to such projects as road repair, water treatment and area beautification. The county has specifically earmarked $6 million for the construction of a new justice center, and Carrollton has scheduled $1.3 million for renovation of the city’s historic train depot.

According to Head, failure of the tax would either mean many of these projects are abandoned or taxes are significantly raised to make up the difference.

“To do all the things, you’d have to raise home taxes astronomically, and nobody wants to do that,” Head said. “And the courthouse and water and roads and road equipment are certainly things we have to have but without [SPLOST], the things that are listed that we want to do would not be possible to do.”

For this reason, Head urged local citizens to recognize their civic duty and make it out to the polls.

“I think it’s a bad thing when people don’t vote the way they feel about something,” he said. “It is the best way to get the money without it hurting anyone in particular, and we already have it now.”

As they brave the elements and make their way to local polling places, voters need to remember several things. Polling places will be open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and voters must present a valid photo ID before casting their ballot.

Should there be a runoff for the District 6 seat, it will be held on Oct. 7.