Tuesday is showtime for Charlotte Sosebee, the director of elections for Hall County.

The day on which we choose a president and a new member of the U.S. House, among other races, is the busiest of the year for Sosebee and her team, which must open the polls at 7 a.m., close them 12 hours later, then count the votes cast Tuesday as well as thousands cast during three weeks of early voting.

Today, The Times asks Sosebee five questions about elections and her job.

1. How busy do you get at election time? Describe your day during voting.

Election time is a very exciting time; it is extremely busy and most times unpredictable. During early/advance voting, long hours are spent at the office including long nights and most weekends.

There is a lot of “behind the scenes” work in preparing for elections such as visiting and contacting polling locations, training and staffing poll workers, preparing ballots for print, testing election equipment and preparing advertisements mandated by both federal and state election laws.

My day during voting starts with greeting the staff with a big, confident smile. I then answer and/or return phone calls and emails that I have received prior to returning to the office.

Throughout the day, I monitor the flow of the early/advance voting process to assure everything is functioning properly and the lines are moving at a steady pace. I make sure absentee ballots are mailed daily and I am available to assist any voter or staff member who needs my assistance.

2. What is the biggest challenge your office faces to increasing voter turnout?

Good quality workers who are performing with excellent customer service skills and being properly staffed daily to meet the needs of the voters is one of our biggest challenges. Election time requires long hours; there are times that we are in the office before sunup and leaving long after sundown.

This particular year is one I will never forget. We relocated to the (Hall County Government Center), were in early stages of the redistricting process, preparing for candidate qualifying and ballot-building. Each had different deadlines but took place at the same time.

The ability to multitask by working “smarter rather than harder” was another big challenge for our office. Election time itself requires 100 percent of your time, energy and dedication and a renewal of all is commanded every day regardless of how you feel.

Election time is very testing and demanding but witnessing voters take advantage of something very important to them and being a part of making it happen is very rewarding.

3. How has early voting affected your job?

The number of employees in the office increases gradually during an election year. However, during early/advance voting and leading up to the very last day, more voters participate in the process and we are encouraged to build our number of team workers. Early/advance voting is priority to anything else, but is in addition to our daily workload so our employment roll increases to meet the need of the public.

4. What changes in voting would you like to see over time?

The voting process has changed drastically since I started in the elections process over 23 years ago.

Considering the first time I voted, Hall County used the lever machines.

Since my employment with elections, we have gone from all paper ballots being processed through an optic scanner and limits on who can cast an early or absentee ballot, to now voting early with no reason at all.

Since 2010, military and overseas voters have had the privilege of receiving their ballots electronically. The voters of this state should be very proud and appreciative of the uniform voting system we have.

5. Why is the civic duty of voting important to you?

Voting is voluntary but should be exercised. It is very critical and the privilege should not be taken for granted; it is the most important nonviolent tool for change. Voting is easy and our way of expressing ourselves. Many people fought, died and bled for us to have the right to vote.

Voting can determine the outcome of many issues such as health care, Social Security, education and how accessible other resources are to us.

It is important to me that I vote by taking advantage of the one time I know for sure that my voice is heard. I believe, regardless of choice, everyone should use this opportunity to speak. I strongly believe in people exercising their right to vote and am extremely pleased with being a part of the process. Elections are my life; and it is what I do.