Special to the Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Effingham County is at the front of the line in terms of election security.

Elections & Registrations Director Laura Bassett is currently teaching deputies about election laws and their role in providing security at Effingham County’s 20 polling places. Similar instruction will be state mandated in 2025 at the Georgia Police Academy, but Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie opted not to wait before exposing his officers to the material.

Bassett, whose office is busy preparing for the Nov. 5 General Election, is teaching deputies how to:

·       Identify the three levels of government in elections operations (federal, state and county)

·       Recognize civil rights concerns with law enforcement involvement in elections

·       Identify the government entity roles regarding elections

·       Identify the law enforcement entity with primary legal responsibility for providing security for elections

·       Identify additional law enforcement agencies at the state and federal level capable of supporting election security

·       Understand proper response to threats directed at election officials and events

·       Identify election laws that have law enforcement applicability

·       Learn appropriate responses to 911 calls to locations with active voting

Effingham County has 52,000 registered voters, more than twice as many as a decade ago. Bassett is expecting an 80 percent turnout for the Nov. 5 General Election.

“In 2020, we had more than 17,000 people come in just for early voting,” Bassett said. “People are getting more comfortable with it.”

Early voting starts Tuesday Oct. 15 at the Board of Elections & Registration Office 284 GA Hwy 119 South in Springfield. Early voting is available each weekday and two Saturdays at the Board of Elections & Registration Office through Nov. 1.