Early voting breaks turnout records statewide and in Chatham County

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Early voting began Tuesday in Georgia ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, and voters broke turnout records both statewide and in Chatham County.

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, more than 170,000 ballots were cast statewide, marking the largest statewide turnout for a midterm election.

In Chatham County, the Board of Voter Registration reported more than 1,000 ballots cast in the first six hours polls were open.

Six locations open countywide

Residents can cast an early ballot at six locations across Chatham County. Early voting in Chatham County is open seven days a week until Oct. 30.

Voters need one form of identification to cast a ballot, such as a Georgia ID or a U.S. passport.

Voter Brendan Dochney said coming out ahead of time is convenient.

“Sometimes you see voter day there’s long lines and it takes a while, you’ve got to plan around that. It’s nice when it’s kind of clear and you can just come in and get it done,” Dochney said.

Voter Harcourt Waller said taking time to vote is important.

“I’d say this is a rare privilege, and you need to get out and make your vote count,” Waller said.

Voters prepared with research

The ballot includes more than a dozen names, three statewide questions and the potential for county-based questions. Voters said it helped to be prepared.

Phones are not allowed in the voting booth, but voters can complete and print out a sample ballot as a guide using the My Voter Page.

Voter Huziel Heraldez said research matters before heading to the polls.

“You always want to do your research, you know, it’s easy to go the word of mouth on who to vote and who not to vote for, but you know, see what your values are see where your head lands at,” Heraldez said.

Heraldez also said voting as a group sends a message.

“Especially as a young voter, it means don’t listen to the nay-sayers on what people say online or you’re vote doesn’t count, yeah, or your vote doesn’t matter because it does, and when we come as a group, when we come in abundance it will show in numbers,” Heraldez said.

Officials prepare for midterms

Election officials across the state have been preparing for the midterms for months. State Elections Director Blake Evans said he is confident the next three weeks will go by without major issues for voters.

“Our election officials do a really good job of making sure all of their equipment, every single piece is tested publicly before deploying it, so I anticipate very, very few problems,” Evans said.

Evans also encouraged voters to plan ahead.

“Make a plan to go vote, elections are extremely important. As election officials, we want to make sure that you have a pleasant when you show up to vote, and that it doesn’t take very long or you don’t have to wait very long,” Evans said.

Carry Smith, a board member with the Chatham County Board of Voter Registration, urged residents to vote.

“Politics does not enter this building, this is a civic function, this is voting, so people do not need to be discouraged, people do not need to worry about voter suppression, they just need to come out and vote,” Smith said.

The last day to send in an absentee ballot is Oct. 23.