BAD TIMING. The Sept. 23 runoff election in state Senate District 21 falls during the High Holy Days, which begins with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. The timing is raising concerns among the state’s Jewish community that it could limit turnout. One of the two candidates in the runoff, Debra Shigley, is Jewish.
“Our Jewish community should never have to choose between religious observance and civic participation,” the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta said in a statement. “We strongly urge election officials to ensure this oversight is never repeated.”
The JCRC urged voters to take advantage of early and absentee voting ahead of the election, regardless of the candidate they’re supporting.
Shigley, a Democrat, finished with 39.5% of the vote on Tuesday, while Republican Jason Dickerson was the second highest finisher, with 17,4%. Since neither reached 50% plus one vote, state law requires the top two finishers advance to a runoff.
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