Early voting back on, going strong
Absentee ballots available for those who want to avoid lines, mail in their votes
Polls opened back up for early voting this week at the Board of Elections, and hundreds have been coming in to cast their ballots for the 2020 Presidential Primary that was delayed in March, and the Local and State primaries that was supposed to be held last week.
When last the county left off from early voting in March after presidential primary was pushed back due to COVID-19, there were 980 early ballots cast.
Since the start back, there’s been an additional 562 ballots cast as of May 22. That brings the total number to 1,542, with more likely to come with two weeks left to vote. Note: Those figures were as of Friday as the office was closing up around press time for the Standard Journal. Check online at polkstandardjournal.com for updated tallies.
There’s also been 2,727 absentee ballots returned as well.
Voting right now is taking place just at the Cedartown Precinct, with a special Saturday option available coming up this weekend on May 30 to allow for those who are usually at work and can’t make it during office hours to cast a ballot early. Additionally, there’s no early voting Monday due to the Memorial Day holiday.
Precautions are being taken to ensure that people aren’t getting too close to one another either. Only a certain number of people are being allowed to stand in line at one time (16) inside of the County Administration office, and staggered voting machines
are being used to separate voters from one another when they are casting their ballot.
Machines are also being sanitized after use by officials.
After the Memorial Day holiday, the Board of Elections office remains open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this week. However, election officials are still encouraging people to vote by mail with an absentee ballot for the primaries.
For those who choose to vote in person, the Cedartown location will be also open on Saturday, May 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours for June 1, 3 and 5 will continue with a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule, but extended hours are planned for June 2 and 4 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Rockmart precinct will open at the Nathan Dean Community Center at 605 Goodyear Ave. from June 1 through June 4 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and then 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, June 5.
The option for voting with an absentee ballot is still available, and ballots can be obtained by calling the office at 770-749-2103. All absentee ballots must be returned by the primary day on June 9.
For those who already received an absentee ballot but have changed their mind and wish to vote in-person, they can still go to a precinct and turn in their paper ballot, so long as it hasn’t been marked in any way or already sealed in the envelope.
Voters will have to sign an affidavit reporting they have not marked the absentee ballot they turned back in, to be eligible to vote in person instead.