The new Habersham County South Voting Precinct has been open for nearly a week and a half for early voting. Turnout for the Presidential Preference Primary election has been slow during that period.
When the polls closed on Monday Feb. 26, the South Voting Precinct had only received 486 in person ballots cast . The Elections Office has received 41 absentee ballots by mail out of 132 issued so far. Voters can still register to receive absentee by mail ballots until March 1.
According to Habersham County Elections Supervisor Laurel Ellison, there are 32,060 registered voters in Habersham County with 29,298 voters that are active.
Early voting will continue at the South Voting Precinct during business hours through Friday March 1.
Saturday voting / advance voting
Voters will have an opportunity to vote on Saturday March 2 at the South Voting Precinct in Cornelia and the North Voting Precinct in the Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarkesville. Polls will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Advance voting week will begin at both locations, the North Voting Precinct and the South Voting Precinct, on Monday March 4 and continue through Friday March 8. The polls will open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. each day.
Alto special election
The Alto special election for City Council Post 1 has been off to a slow start as well. Only seven voters have cast a ballot during early voting as of Monday Feb. 26. As of the November 2023 municipal election, the town of Alto had 473 registered voters.
The South Voting Precinct is located at 403 Habersham County Shopping Center in Cornelia.
The North Voting Precinct is located at 120 Paul Franklin Road, Toccoa Highway, in Clarkesville.
