Chickamauga voters steadily showed up at the polls today, with more than 100 ballots cast by 9 a.m. By 1 p.m., 269 people had cast ballots at the polling site. The city has 2,087 registered voters.

A total of 70 absentee ballots had been sent in as of this morning, according to election superintendent Richard Barclift.

Barclift is anticipating better-than-expected turnout, based on the good weather and the first few hours of voting.

On the ballot are three seats on the school board, along with a fourth seat by special election to fill the remaining two years of the late Don Littleton’s term.

Six candidates are competing for three seats on the Chickamauga City Council.

Juanita Crowder is running unopposed as the city recorder.

Council member Mark Askew, who isn’t seeking reelection, said “it was bittersweet” to cast his ballot this morning without his name being on it.

Askew has served for eight years on the City Council, but is vacating his seat after moving out-of-district.

While Askew hasn’t endorsed any particular candidate to fill his vacancy, he said “we have some very capable and qualified candidates that I want to see continue the common sense approach to growth” that has helped Chickamauga prosper.