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How CSRA officials are preparing for Election Day
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How CSRA officials are preparing for Election Day

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Voters broke records in Georgia and South Carolina during early voting, but tens of thousands of people still haven’t cast ballots.

If you’re waiting for Election Day, you may have questions about Tuesday.

Richmond, Columbia and Aiken counties all report seeing incredible early voter turnout.

“I think the early voting numbers show that voters want to get out and vote, so yes, I expect large numbers,” said Dana Burden, director of the Aiken County Board of Elections.

“We still expect a good turnout,” said Travis Doss, executive director of the Richmond County Board of Elections. “I think at the end of the day we should probably have a turnout between 70 and 75 percent, which would be really good.”

“So if we get 30% turnout tomorrow that will be good, 80% and that’s not bad,” said Nancy Gay, executive director of the Columbia County Board of Elections.

Early voting in Georgia

Columbia County had more than 60,000 early voters and Gay says he has 110,000 active registered voters.

Richmond County saw an early voting turnout of 34%, with more than 51,000 early voters. Doss says they have more than 129,000 active registered voters.

Aiken County had more than 52,000 early voters and Burden says it has about 130,000 active registered voters.

They urge all voters not to forget their photo ID when they go to the polls because you need it to vote in Georgia and South Carolina.

They also say it’s best to be prepared and the best way is to review a sample ballot.

“Just get educated, do some homework, get familiar with a ballot, and then go vote,” Gay said.

“Go online and get a sample ballot, because a lot of people don’t realize there are other things on the ballot besides the president,” Doss said. “There’s the Senate, there’s Congress, there’s the school board and there are four issues that are on the ballot.”

Burden says she still gets calls from people who want to know where their polling place is.

Depending on your county, some of these locations may be different than last election.

The Savannah Rapids Pavilion was unfortunately damaged in the hurricane, so those voters are going to be moving to Stevens Creek Community Church,” Gay said.

Early voting at the Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building.

“If you used to vote at the worship center in the building, you want to make sure you go to the boys and girls club,” Doss said.

Doss also says that if you normally vote at Belle-Terrace Presbyterian, voters were shifted back to Henry Brigham.

Aiken County says there was no need to move polling places.

If you have an absentee ballot, Doss says it’s too late to put it in the mail, so he encourages you to hand-deliver your ballot to your election board’s office.

You can do this until 7 p.m. on polling day.

In Columbia County, officials say to plan accordingly, especially with the Columbia County Fair happening this week.

If your polling location is near the fairgrounds, expect and take into account light traffic.

If you go to the polls on Tuesday, they say, remember that voting has rules.

You cannot bring anything affiliated with a campaign or candidate and it is also against Georgia and South Carolina law to be on your phone or take a photo of your ballot.