FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Early voting for the Nov. 2 Special Election and City of Cumming Municipal General Election started today.

The Special Election is for the Educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST). In the municipal election, first-term Mayor Troy Brumbalow faces a challenge from attorney William Allen Stone III. Post 1 City Councilman Chad Crane and Post 2 City Councilman Jason Evans are both unopposed but their names will be on the ballot.

All voters who were registered to vote by the Oct. 4, 2021 deadline are eligible to vote in the special Election. Only voters who reside in the city limits of Cumming are eligible to vote in the municipal election.

Advance voting in person is available for three weeks, including two Saturdays, prior to Election Day. Voting is scheduled to take place weekdays beginning, Tuesday, October 12 through Friday, Oct. 29, and Saturday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 23.

If the protests observed at Board of Education meetings the last three months is a barometer, the ESPLOST referendum could be in trouble. Hundreds of county residents flooded the meeting room this past summer to protest the teaching of Critical Race Theory.

While school system officials say they do not teach (CRT) parents say the school reading lists and lesson plans contain numerous books and information that supports the theory and they are demanding change.

A popular website that claims to have more than 2,000 followers, “Concerned Parents of Forsyth County Georgia,” has campaigned for months against CRT and many followers, including some who have traditionally voted in support of ESPLOST say they will vote no this year.

Amber Marie posted: “It’s continued funding of the indoctrination of our children paid for by us through increased taxes. I’ve voted yes for 23 years. I know better now.”

Jan Clark posted: “I will be voting no until (school officials) demonstrate they are listening to us.”

Joanna Vagner stated: I will be voting no. They could start using the funds they already have been spending on indoctrination to use towards their expansion goals. They don’t listen to me so I have no intention of providing additional funds.”