By the numbers: early voting so far in Georgia
Number of early ballots cast so far (in person and absentee): 820,766
Early votes cast are up about 4.5 percent over those cast at this point in 2012 presidential election.
Last day to early vote: Nov. 4
Georgia's early voting turnout is running ahead of 2012 totals for the same time period, presaging the potential for record numbers in this year's Nov. 8 presidential election.
Statewide voting tallies had surged past 820,700 as of Wednesday — almost 35,000 more votes than at the same time four years ago, according to the latest available numbers from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
Statewide early voting turnout
Number of ballots cast: 820,766
Number of ballots voted in person: 717,527
Number of absentee mail-in ballots returned: 103,239
Number of absentee mail-in ballots outstanding: 100,151
Top 5 counties in Georgia for turnout
Fulton: 109,034
DeKalb: 61,473
Cobb: 42,064
Gwinnett: 31,470
Forsyth: 28,057
How to vote early in Georgia
Any voter registered in Georgia can vote early.
Each of Georgia's 159 counties has at least one early voting location open, with most already scheduled to open more in the coming days ahead of the state's early voting deadline of Nov. 4. Polls will also be open statewide this Saturday.
Local elections offices post early voting sites on their websites. As a bonus, several metro Atlanta counties, including Cobb, Fulton and Gwinnett, also post expected wait times — the longest wait around midday Wednesday in Gwinnett, for example, was more than an hour — something to be aware of if you want to avoid the crowds that caused national news when polls opened here last week.
Be aware that your regular neighborhood polling place will likely not be open; often, local municipalities only open select sites during the state’s 21-day early voting period.
You can log onto the Secretary of State Office's online "my voter page" website (www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do) to find a sample ballot or specific early voting location.
You can also call your local elections office to find early voting locations or look for the "advance voting info" link under the elections tab of the Secretary of State Office's website (www.sos.ga.gov).
Dos and don’ts for voting in Georgia
Don’t forget to bring photo identification, which can include a Georgia driver’s license, even if it’s expired; a state-issued voter identification card; a valid U.S. passport; or a valid U.S. military photo ID.
No “ballot selfies” are allowed at the polls, so wait until you’re outside to snap a photo. It is illegal in Georgia to take pictures of a ballot or voting equipment, but the Secretary of State Office has said it has seen voters in previous elections post “ballot selfies” on social media — something that could get you in trouble with the law.
Information about local elections and your “My Voter Page” can also be found on the free “GA SOS” app for your smartphone via iTunes or Google Play for Android.
About the Author
