The Lawrence County Circuit Clerk’s office will be open 9 a.m.to noon Saturday to accept absentee votes in the Nov. 22 runoffelection for Post 1 Justice Court judge.

The election pits interim Judge Albert Turnage, of Silver Creek,against Kathleen S. Sharp, of New Hebron. Turnage and Sharpadvanced to a runoff Tuesday by earning the most votes in afour-candidate field.

Turnage brought in 583 votes, or 38.5 percent, and Sharpcaptured 483 votes, or 31.9 percent, in complete but unofficialtotals.

Voter turnout Tuesday was extremely low in Post 1, whichincludes 16 of Lawrence County’s 26 precincts, including all ofDistricts Four and Five, Oma, Sontag and Wanilla, said CircuitClerk Cindy Stokes.

“I hope that there is a better turnout for the runoff,” shesaid.

Voters are electing a replacement for former Post 1 JusticeCourt Judge Bobby Fortenberry Jr., who pleaded guilty to possessionof crystal meth with intent to transfer and stepped down from hisoffice in an agreement with prosecutors and the court in September2004.

Turnage was appointed as interim judge by the Lawrence CountyBoard of Supervisors shortly after Fortenberry’s resignation.

The winner of the election will fulfill Fortenberry’s term,which expires Jan. 1, 2008.