Voting push continues

♦ The elections office will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday for early voting.

Voters in Gordon County have continued to hit the polls at a record-setting pace during the ongoing early voting period.

Early voting began almost two weeks ago, on Monday, Oct. 14, and by the end of the day Thursday 6,437 ballots had been cast in person locally. Shea Hicks, chair of the Gordon County Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office, said the previous early voting record was just over 9,000, and her office has been helping more than 700 residents vote each day so far.

Early voting continues through Friday, Oct. 30, and the elections office will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the only opportunity to cast a ballot during the weekend. At the current pace of voting, more than 11,000 in-person ballots will be cast in Gordon before early voting ends.

Additionally, Hicks said her office by Thursday had already received 3,028 of the more than 4,800 absentee ballots requested in the county.

What’s more, interest in the Nov. 3 election has driven up registration numbers like never before. Hicks previously said 37,207 voters are registered to vote in the county for this year’s presidential election, as compared to 24,934 voters in 2016.

“This year has been different,” said Hicks. “It’s a presidential year, so any time there is a presidential election more people get interested and want to take the opportunity to make their voice heard.”

In other news, the Gordon County Young Farmers must submit applications for the Terrell Weeks Memorial Scholarship by no later than Monday, Nov. 2. to be considered.

The scholarship is awarded

to a senior student affiliated with a chartered young farmer chapter who demonstrates academic excellence and outstanding achievement. The recipient must enter postsecondary education during the fall semester following high school graduation.

The award amount will be awarded to the winner after they begin their studies and may be applied toward tu

ition at any post-secondary institution, room and board, books and supplies or other education-related expenses.

A letter of recommendation from the Gordon County Young Farmers chapter advisor is required as part of the application. Carr said those in need of a letter of recommendation should contact her at 770-519-3619 as soon as possible.