Early voting for next month’s Georgia General Election is shattering records around the state and the turnout in Ware County is contributing.
Through the first five days of voting (October 13-18), 1,989 ballots were received by the Ware County Board of Elections and Registration. Of that total, 1,759 people voted in person, according to data compiled by Supervisor of Elections Carlos Nelson.
“It’s not the first week of a presidential election, which is always huge, but for a mid-term or off-year, this is surprising,” Nelson said Monday afternoon.
The state was approaching more than a million early votes last weekend, totaling about 815,00 ballots cast in the first four days. County election offices have the option to include weekend voting, and many, like Ware, do so on Saturday while others also offer it on Sunday.
“We’re pretty much in line with what’s taking place around the state,” Nelson said.
Nelson said voting in his office has been “steady” most days. There have been some waiting to utilize one of the seven machines available, but only a few minutes, he said.
“If there is a line, it’s moving pretty fast,” he said. “It won’t take more than a few minutes (to vote after check-in).”
In addition to the in-person ballots, another 196 were absentee by mail with four through electronic delivery, first-week figures show.
A total of 55 ballots — 52 by mail — were accepted in advance of the in-person opening. First-day voting was 456 combined with 413 visiting the elections office at 408 Tebeau Street.
High for the week was 474 total on October 14 with 435 in person. Ware’s electors list has 22,861 voters of which 21,166 active.
Nelson
By comparison locally, 802 ballots were received in Brantley County with the high total of 199 coming on October 16. There were 182 ballots cast the first day.
In Pierce County, the first-week total was 1,313 with 284 the first day. Of that total of the week, 1,277 were in person.
Statewide, the first day vote of 188,667 ballots broke the midterm early record. It was an increase of 53,000 voters over the 2022 midterm election, the Office of Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said.
In the 2018 midterms, 70,849 Georgians voted on the first day of in-person early voting.
“This record-breaking turnout proves that voters have confidence in the integrity of our elections,” Raffensperger said. “It’s a testament to our strong election system overseen by 159 of the best county election officials in the country.”
Both parties have made special efforts to get people to the polls early.
The Georgia NAACP held a 23-county bus tour last week around the state, including a stop October 13 at the Stephens Venue in Waycross, emphasizing voting.
The local “No Kings” organization held a rally October 18 in Waycross emphasizing the need to vote.
Republican Rick Jackson, who’s running against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, held a campaign rally and fundraiser October 14 in Pierce County.
Voting continues locally from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays at the elections office. A valid photo ID is required at the time of voting.
Deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m., Friday, October 23.
Those can be submitted to securemyabsenteeballot. sos.ga.gov, emailed to [email protected], sent by mail to the board office address, faxed to (912) 287-4364 or requested in person at the board office.
Absentee ballots can be mailed to or dropped off at the board office. They must be received by the end of voting November 3.
Voting Election Day will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at all locations in Ware County.
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