VALDOSTA, Ga. – Early voting begins in Valdosta the December 3 runoff election for the office of mayor and city council at-large.

While presidential elections tend to draw the biggest crowds, municipal elections don’t tend to get the populace steamed up and ready to cast their ballots.

With an estimated population of Valdosta at roughly 54,426 according to the latest census information, only about 6,000 in the city got out and voted. The population of Lowndes County as of 2017 was 115,489. The overall lack of interest in local elections is evident, no matter how much campaigning or promoting is done.

The Mayoral-election is between J.D. Rice and Scott James Matheson.

Rice led with 34.51% of the vote, with Matheson trailing with 24.91% of the vote – however, neither had over 50% to win the election which requires the runoff.

The polls are open Monday-Friday, 8-5 p.m. this week and next week, Monday-Wednesday.