Georgians are voting early in record numbers. Turnout on the second day of early voting surpassed the previous record set during the 2020 presidential election.
More than 134,000 voters cast early ballots across the state on Tuesday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger reported. Tuesday’s total marks a 75.3% increase from day two of 2018 midterm early voting, and a 3.3% increase over the second day of early voting in the 2020 Presidential Election.
More than a quarter-million ballots have been cast since early voting began in Georgia on October 17.
“We’re extremely pleased that so many Georgians are able to cast their votes, in record numbers and without any reports of substantial delays,” says Raffensperger. “This is a testament to the hard work of Georgia’s election workers, the professionals who keep our elections convenient and secure.”
Northeast Georgians are keeping pace with the rest of the state, reporting steady streams of voters with limited wait times.
“We are having a higher-than-normal turnout, with 10 to 20 minutes being the longest wait time so far,” says Habersham County Elections Supervisor Laurel Ellison. “My election techs and our poll workers are doing a tremendous job keeping the lines moving.”
As of Tuesday, 1,364 in-person ballots and 769 mail-in ballots had been cast in Habersham County. White County reported 350 voters cast ballots on the first day of early in-person voting there. White County Elections Supervisor Jody Davis called it a “record day.”
If you plan to vote absentee by mail, you have until October 28th to submit an application.
“My office staff is doing a wonderful job making sure that absentee ballots are going out daily as we receive voter’s applications,” says Ellison.
Absentee ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on the night of the election, November 8.
“They can either mail their absentee ballot back to our office or they can bring it in to our office and place it in our drop box during all early/advance voting hours, which includes Saturday voting,” Ellison says.
Early and Saturday voting in Habersham is being held at the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarkesville through November 4. On November 8, voters will have to report to their assigned precincts.
Ellison urges voters to check their voting status and precincts before going to the polls. You can do this by contacting your local registrar or visiting the My Voter Page on the secretary of state’s website.
