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Voters may avoid monster lines by not casting general-election ballots on Nov. 6, but early voting doesn’t necessarily mean breezing in and out of the elections office.
Early voting, which starts today in Georgia, captured nearly 34 percent of the Hall County vote in 2008, Elections Director Charlotte Sosebee said.
That turnout translated to 27,587 voters in 45 days.
This time around, early voting has been shortened to 21 days, with the process ending Nov. 2 and including a Saturday opportunity to vote.
“I’m expecting just as many people to vote early in that 21 days,” Sosebee said.
Plus, factor in a larger county, she said. Hall County has 83,000 active voters, up from 79,000 in 2008, when the overall general-election turnout in Hall was 76 percent.
Expecting a crunch, Sosebee said she’ll have all hands on deck in the coming weeks.
“We also have volunteers and seasonal workers (helping out),” she said. “And we have some of our poll workers (lined up for duty).”
In 2008, the office had 40 seasonal workers and “we went way over budget, so we are trying to keep an eye on (spending) while at the same time trying to supply the county with efficiency and excellent customer service,” Sosebee said.
Early voting will take place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Hall County Elections Office, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, in the new Hall County administrative building near McEver Road.
Residents need to bring one of six forms of identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, or a Georgia voter ID card.
Also, expect to be directed to an elevator to reach the elections office.
“Because of the setup of our office, we’re trying to cut (the line) down to one, rather than two,” Sosebee said.
Voters had the option of taking steps or the elevator to the elections office during the last early voting period for the July 31 general primary.
“People who couldn’t use steps took the elevator,” Sosebee said. “So, we had two lines and it was confusing to a lot of people, and we had a few disgruntled voters. Hopefully, it won’t be so confusing this time.”
Sosebee suggested 9 a.m. as “the best time to show up for voting.”
By that time, people will be at work. And older residents tend to come in at midmorning, after breakfast and a walk, said Sosebee, adding that another good time to vote is after 2 p.m.
The deadline to register to vote in the general election was Tuesday, but those who cut it close with voter registration can confirm their status through the Secretary of State’s website.
Also, if you have submitted a voter registration application within the past three to four weeks and your name does not appear on the site, contact the elections office to check the status of the application, the Secretary of State’s office advises.
Oct. 14, 2012 11:49p.m. EDT
Early voting starts today
Jeff Gill
Gainesville Times
Voters may avoid monster lines by not casting general-election ballots on Nov. 6, but early voting doesn’t necessarily mean breezing in and out of the elections office.
Early voting, which starts today in Georgia, captured nearly 34 percent of the Hall County vote in 2008, Elections Director Charlotte Sosebee said.
That turnout translated to 27,587 voters in 45 days.
This time around, early voting has been shortened to 21 days, with the process ending Nov. 2 and including a Saturday opportunity to vote.
“I’m expecting just as many people to vote early in that 21 days,” Sosebee said.
Plus, factor in a larger county, she said. Hall County has 83,000 active voters, up from 79,000 in 2008, when the overall general-election turnout in Hall was 76 percent.
Expecting a crunch, Sosebee said she’ll have all hands on deck in the coming weeks.
“We also have volunteers and seasonal workers (helping out),” she said. “And we have some of our poll workers (lined up for duty).”
In 2008, the office had 40 seasonal workers and “we went way over budget, so we are trying to keep an eye on (spending) while at the same time trying to supply the county with efficiency and excellent customer service,” Sosebee said.
Early voting will take place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Hall County Elections Office, 2875 Browns Bridge Road, in the new Hall County administrative building near McEver Road.
Residents need to bring one of six forms of identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, or a Georgia voter ID card.
Also, expect to be directed to an elevator to reach the elections office.
“Because of the setup of our office, we’re trying to cut (the line) down to one, rather than two,” Sosebee said.
Voters had the option of taking steps or the elevator to the elections office during the last early voting period for the July 31 general primary.
“People who couldn’t use steps took the elevator,” Sosebee said. “So, we had two lines and it was confusing to a lot of people, and we had a few disgruntled voters. Hopefully, it won’t be so confusing this time.”
Sosebee suggested 9 a.m. as “the best time to show up for voting.”
By that time, people will be at work. And older residents tend to come in at midmorning, after breakfast and a walk, said Sosebee, adding that another good time to vote is after 2 p.m.
The deadline to register to vote in the general election was Tuesday, but those who cut it close with voter registration can confirm their status through the Secretary of State’s website.
Also, if you have submitted a voter registration application within the past three to four weeks and your name does not appear on the site, contact the elections office to check the status of the application, the Secretary of State’s office advises.
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