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Early-voter turnout brisk during first two days
Dorothy Ogden and Ernestine Collins
Dorothy Ogden from Rincon (left) and Ernestine Collins from Guyton found a break in the steady line of voters Oct. 16. (Photos by Barbara Augsdorfer/Effingham Herald.)

By Barbara Augsdorfer, editor for the Effingham Herald

Valerie and Randy Mingledorff
Valerie and Randy Mingledorff from Springfield went to early voting at the Elections office Oct. 16.
Early voting in Effingham County began Oct. 15, and according to Laura Bassett, the county’s director of elections and registration, 1,615 Effingham County residents voted that first day. In addition to those in-person votes, the county elections office has received just over 1,200 applications for absentee ballots.

While the first day’s pace averaged 200 voters per hour, at mid-day on Wednesday, the parking lot was almost full and a steady stream of voters -- singly or in groups of two or four -- came through the door within a span of 30 minutes. The wait time was minimal.

Early voting continues each weekday at the Effingham County Elections and Registration office, 284 GA Hwy 119S in Springfield, and two Saturdays – Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 – from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. through Nov. 1. After Nov. 1 you may vote in person at your assigned polling location on Nov. 5 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. If you are in line before 7 p.m., you will be able to cast your ballot.

Absentee ballots may be dropped off at the Elections Office during early voting, mailed to be postmarked on or before Nov. 5, or dropped off at your assigned polling location on Nov. 5.

Debby McIncrow
Debby McIncrow from Springfield zipped through a lull in the line to vote early on Oct. 16.
If you have any questions about voting, call the Effingham County Elections Office at 912-754-8030; or click on the “My Voter Page” on the Georgia Secretary of State website at https://sos.ga.gov.