Day 3 of early voting brings record-breaking numbers to cast ballots - WRDW

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - We’re just three days into early voting for the runoff election and the momentum from November hasn’t slowed down one bit.

“No shortage of activity going on in the elections office,” said Lynn Bailey with the Richmond County Board of Elections.

For three days in a row, early voting numbers for the runoff election have surpassed the early voting numbers from the November election.

“In county after county that I’ve spoken with, they’ve had the same thing happened in their jurisdiction so it’s not so much just Richmond County,” Bailey said.

On Monday, nearly 400 more people showed up to vote than on the first day of early voting in the general election. And even on a cold and rainy Wednesday brought in 185 more voters than the third voting day for the general election.

It seems like we’d be on track to beat the turnout, but Bailey says not so fast.

“We have not issued as many absentee ballots as we did in November, so at the end of the day, I don’t know what it means,” she said.

Bailey estimates the turnout for the runoff will be about 40 to 45 percent, compared to 65 percent in November.

She says 45 percent is still an unusually huge turnout for a runoff election.

“I think everyone would agree that this is not a normal runoff, it’s anything but normal what we’re seeing,” Bailey said.

“All eyes are on Georgia,” said Gayla Keesee, service chair of the CSRA League of Woman Voters.

And it’s brought allies, voter marches and rides to the polls. Candidates, parties and voter mobilization groups have been just as busy, too.

Keesee says the political momentum is a factor in the big turnout.

“So it’s working. We just got to keep that momentum going,” she said.

This Saturday is the only weekend day available for early voting. People can head to the Bell Auditorium as early as 9 a.m. to cast their vote.

From Dec. 28 to 31, the satellite locations will open in three locations across Augusta from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The last day for early voting and the last day absentee ballots will be mailed is Dec. 31.

As for the holidays, the polls are closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Early voting schedule

RICHMOND COUNTY

Bell Auditorium, 712 Telfair St.

Dec. 14-18: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dec. 19: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dec. 21-23: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dec. 24-25: No voting
Dec. 28-31: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jan. 1: No voting

Robert Howard Community Center, 103 Diamond Lakes Way, Henry Brigham Community Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road and Warren Road Community Center, 300 Warren Road

Dec. 28-31: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jan. 1: No voting

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Building G-3 at the government complex in Evans and the old Euchee Creek Library in Grovetown

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays

Key information for voters

If you are voting by mail, you still have time to request an absentee ballot. If you chose not to mail in your ballot, secure drop boxes are already open in Richmond County at:

Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building, 535 Telfair St.
Robert Howard Community Center at Diamond Lakes Regional Park, 103 Diamond Lakes Way
Henry Brigham Community Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road
Warren Road Recreation Center, 300 Warren Road
Augusta Service Center, 3463 Peach Orchard Road

For those voting by mail, Ballot Trax allows them to check the status of their ballot. Once you sign up, notifications are sent to your phone every step of the way, from when your application is received to the moment your vote is counted.

Other things to know

All voters voting in person during advance voting must provide one of the six acceptable forms of photo identification.
Voters opting to vote in person are asked to wear a clean face covering
Due to social distancing requirements, only a certain number of voters can be inside each facility. Voting in person will likely take longer than normal under these circumstances.
Absentee ballot applications and sample ballots are available at the Board of Elections website at www.augustaga.gov/vote or at Georgia’s My Vote Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov.

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