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ALBANY, GA -- Dr.  Constance Burkes, chairman of the Dougherty County Democrat Party, proposed a Saturday voting day, saying it would’ve helped voter turnout during the election.

“I think it’s being proactive, I think it’s being progressive, I think it’s stepping outside the box, I think it’s giving people every option out there,” says Burkes.

Others say there are already plenty of options. That’s why a Saturday voting proposal was turned down 4-1 at a special meeting of the Albany-Dougherty Board of Registration and Elections on Wednesday.

“In Georgia we have multiple opportunities to vote. We have early voting, we have advanced voting, we have absentee voting and then we have 12 hours on Election Day that everyone can vote,” says State Representative Candidate Karen Kemp.

Board of Election members say Saturday voting doesn’t seem feasible or necessary at this time.

“There is an option, a lot of options and I’m not against Saturday voting per se if that’s an option. There are six counties out of 159 in Georgia that do that. I just don’t feel in my opinion we need to do that,” says Board of Elections Chairman Alan Pendleton.

While some say Saturday voting would be convenient, others say it’s a waste of tax payer’s money. One day of Saturday voting costs $1,200.

“I realize that working families are challenged and time precious but when you can vote four difference ways and vote from the comfort of your home, I say let’s not spend any of Dougherty County’s precious resources,” says Kemp.

Pendleton says there are too many voting options available to spend the extra money.

“You can sit down in the comfort of your lounge chair, watching television and drinking your beer, sitting comfortably in your night clothes and execute your ballot and mail it back to the office,” says Pendleton.

Some say it’s a waste of money, but Burkes would’ve gambled money on the idea.

“I would put money on the table had they done it, we would’ve had people at that poll all day long in lines,” says Burkes.

Cost was an issue with board members, but Burkes says she thinks people would have volunteered their time to help on Saturday.

Early voting is Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.