Polls are open until 7 p.m. today for a primary election that includes a host of hotly contested local races along with a vote on a regional transportation sales tax and for a representative in the newly drawn 9th District in the U.S. House.

Almost 5,000 Hall County voters cast their ballots in the first three hours the polls were open this morning.

According to Charlotte Sosebee, Hall County’s election director, 4,895 voters hit the polls from 7 to 10 a.m. today.
The next count is at 3 p.m.

“We’re not as busy as I thought we’d be,” said Sosebee. “I hope we’ll have a continued stream of voters throughout the day.”

She said more than 6,000 voters cast their ballot during early voting and the office is still collecting absentee ballots.

“We are still receiving our absentee ballots,” Sosebee said. “We’ll receive them up until this evening."

Voters can go to mvp.sos.state.ga.us to find information on their registration status as well as their polling precinct. They also should have received voter cards in the mail earlier this month listing that information.

Voters should be aware that many precincts were adjusted this year, so they may not vote in the same location as they did in the last election. And they should be sure to bring an approved photo ID with them when they vote.

All locally contested races will appear on the Republican ballot and will be decided either after today’s vote or after an Aug. 21 runoff, if necessary. Only the seat to represent the 9th District in the U.S. House faces opposition from a Democrat in the Nov. 2 election.

Anyone still in line when the polls close tonight at 7 will be allowed to vote.