After months of point-counterpoint, election day is three days away and DeKalb voters will join the 10-county metro area in what has been billed as the region’s most important vote in 40 years.

On the ballot for DeKalb voters are the controversial penny sales tax referendum to fund $8.5 billion in transportation projects and referendums on placing cell phone towers on school properties and creating a city of Brookhaven.

There are also open races for the District 4 School Board seat and the new House 94 seat and challenges to incumbents on the bench and on the School Board, County Commission and state House and Senate, and in the 4th Congressional District.

DeKalb Elections supervisor Maxine Daniels said that with the diversity of issues, she is hoping for a 30 percent turnout.

“We have enough issues that will bring voters out,” she predicted Wednesday. “Hopefully, there are enough issues for a variety of voters.”

A 30 percent turnout this year would trump the 23 percent DeKalb had in 2008.

Daniels points out that this year also, the county had five weeks of no excuse voting that wasn’t around in 2008.

That year, voters could only vote in person the week before election day.

Through July 25, more than 13,954 voters had cast early ballots. In comparison, in 2008, the total number of voters casting early ballots was 15,642.

For the July 31 primary and nonpartisan races and special elections, DeKalb has 457,554 registered voters.

Of that number, 401,003 are active voters because they have cast ballots in the last two elections.

Fifty-four percent, or 248,697, are African-American voters.

On election day, all 190 county precincts will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters who are in line before 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

If needed, runoff elections will take place Aug. 20.