Charlotte Sosebee is beginning to rethink her predictions for turnout in the House District 25 runoff election.

Only 72 people have shown up so far to vote early for either Bobby Banks or Emory Dunahoo Jr. in the race to be the next state representative from South Hall.

The number is far below the 35,818 eligible voters in the district.

Originally, Sosebee, the director of elections for Hall County, predicted some 15 percent of the eligible voters would show up to vote by Dec. 6.

"I always have high hopes," she said.

Sosebee's prediction for the runoff was higher than actual turnout in the November election.

About 14 percent of the district's eligible voters showed up on Nov. 8 to choose between the seven candidates who lined up for a chance to complete James Mills' term.

Mills resigned in late September to become a member of the state's Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Dunahoo, Mills' brother-in-law, received the most votes in November's election, but not a majority.

He faces Banks, who came in a close second in November, in a runoff election that will cost taxpayers approximately $22,000.

Today, Sosebee's optimism for participation in the upcoming election has dropped to "maybe 9 percent."

"I do hope it will pick up," she said.

There is the chance that it could.

On Monday, 44 people showed up to vote, which was more than both days the polls were open last week combined.

Early voting for the election continues through Friday.

The elections office at 2285 Browns Bridge Road is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The election is Dec. 6 and polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day.