DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — When Saheerah Raheem thinks of voting, she thinks of the future and the past. She stood with her granddaughters by her side, reminded of what it took to secure the right to vote.
"I went to the primary because I believe in the democratic process," Raheem said. "I believe every citizen has a right to vote, and too many of our ancestors suffered for this right."
DeKalb County voters like Raheem will have to turn back out to the polls in a runoff election on June 18 to decide who will become the county's next CEO. Two DeKalb County commissioners are vying to succeed term-limited Michael Thurmond: Lorraine Cochran-Johnson and Larry Johnson. Thurmond said he would eventually endorse one of the candidates ahead of the runoff election.
Cochran-Johnson said if elected, she would focus on improving public safety and making sure adding affordable housing supply and protections was a priority.
"I want to keep people motivated because I had a very strong women's presence in this race," Cochran-Johnson said.
Larry Johnson said if elected, he would work to address mental health and drug abuse, control the county's jail population, increase affordable housing protections and work with youth to learn key skills and avoid crime.
"We'll keep beating the streets like I've been doing, connect with the people who know you, who understand and then connect with folks who may be on the fence," Johnson said.
Emory University political science professor Zachary Peskowitz said that under Georgia's new election law, candidates only have four weeks to campaign in a runoff election. Previously, runoff windows could reach six to eight weeks. For county election offices, that means a shorter time to certify primary election results and set up for a runoff election.
Keisha Smith, executive director of the DeKalb County Office of Voter Registration and Elections, said thousands of poll workers made sure voters' voices were heard Tuesday.
"I'm optimistic that even more voters will cast ballots for the runoff election and during the General Election in November," Smith said in a statement to 11Alive News.
Candidates engaged in runoff elections will have four weeks to spend any cash reserves they have and knock on as many doors to reach as many voters as possible.
“Turnout is going to be very low from these primary elections that are in close proximity to each other," Perkowitz said. "Turnout is of the essence. Even getting those voters to turn out and cast a ballot in your race is also going to be very important.”
Peskowitz said there would be a short early voting window starting June 10. Georgia's 3rd Congressional District, DeKalb CEO and the Clayton County Sheriff's race are just three notable races headed toward a runoff on June 18.
While civic duty is driving some DeKalb voters out for the runoff, others may not be so quick to vote again.
"I have that flexibility," one voter named Felicia told 11Alive ."But the people who don't, they have to spend time thinking how to take time off, what's happening, and how far do I have to travel to vote. I want to make sure that I put that stamp on it. Going the first time around, that’s great, but I want to make sure I solidify my vote.”
Raheem said issues like education, taxes and road infrastructure are driving her back to the polls in a few weeks, along with a sense that she can make a difference in local elections. Beside the present problems, Raheem's got the future in mind as well.
"I'm going to go because I believe every single vote matters, and my vote is one vote," Raheem said. "I'm going to cast it. The first time, the second time and if there's another time, I'm going to go vote."