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Report: Early voting breaks against Atlanta transportation tax
Voters in Georgia who cast ballots early voted overwhelmingly against a proposed transportation sales tax in Georgia, according to a report from an Atlanta newspaper.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that a poll of 656 early voters in the 10-county metro Atlanta region showed only 32 percent supported the proposal.
The ballot measure, which calls for a one-cent state sales tax increase via a Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST), is scheduled to be decided Tuesday in an election that has been closely followed by transportation observers nationally.
If the transportation tax is approved in some Georgia regions and defeated in others, it will only be enforced in the counties that vote yes on Tuesday.
The ballot initiative has drawn attention because of its occurrence in staunchly conservative state.
But it has split traditional alliances in both the Democratic and Republican parties. Business groups who normally endorse GOP candidates have said they support the proposal, while Tea Party groups have rallied against the mere suggestion of a tax increase.
On the Democratic side, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who is a frequent surrogate for President Obama's reelection campaign, has campaigned furiously for the transportation funding. He has been opposed, however, by NAACP groups in the Atlanta area who have argued that the measure does not include enough spending in traditionally African-American areas.
Pre-election polls showed the transportation tax could be headed for a possible defeat, but supporters have predicted a narrow victory for the measure, at least in the metro Atlanta area.
Polls in Georgia are scheduled to close at 7 p.m.
