AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Here are the voting topics we’ve been covering as we enter the final week of early voting.

We’ve followed several races since the primaries, one being Richmond County Sheriff.

Last June, Gino Brantley won against Sheriff Richard Roundtree by just over 1,000 votes in the runoff.

Now that independent candidate Richard Dixon has suspended his campaign for Richmond County, Brantley is running unopposed.

In Aiken County, voters are also choosing a new sheriff.

The two names on your ballot will be Republican candidate Marty Sawyer and Democratic candidate Lucas Grant.

At a candidate forum in August, Grant told voters he would establish a grant-writing team.

Sawyer said school safety would be a top priority for him if elected.

Only time will tell what the future of school safety reform in Aiken County will look like, but it’s up to your vote.

These are a few other local races on our radar.

In Burke County, Sheriff Alfonzo Williams is re-elected.

He faces Brad Capitosti, the write-in candidate.

In Wilkes County, Darryl Porter and Detric Jones are running.

And in South Carolina, McCormick County will elect the next sheriff between Chad Cox and Tim Kelly.

Early voting began last Tuesday with a state record for voter turnout at the start of the early voting period. The records continued.

Also on your ballot Richmond County is running for school board.

There are four districts to consider this time around.

You watch videos of candidates running in Districts 4, 5, 8 and 10 who recently attended a forum.

All spoke about their goals for the school system if elected.

This includes transparency and mentoring efforts.

Aiken County voters, you will see a sales tax renewal cent on your ballot.

This one is for the Aiken County Public School District.

A decade ago, the Aiken County Public School District could fund projects through sales tax, but now it must be renewed.

This renewal hopes to address issues at Silver Bluff High, North Augusta Middle and South Aiken High School, for example.

The sales tax on capital projects is also on the ballot in Aiken County. This tax helps fund capital improvement projects in the county.

The 1% sales tax was initially adopted in 2000 and has been renewed several times.

Where and when to vote

Richmond County Early Voting Locations and Schedule:

• Linda W. Beazley Community Hall in the Municipal Building, 535 Telfair Street. October 15 – October 19, October 21 – November 1, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Henry Brigham Community Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road. October 15-October 19, October 21-October 26, October 28-Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Warren Road Community Center, 300 Warren Road. October 15-October 19, October 21-October 26, October 28-November 1, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Robert Howard Community Center in Diamond Lakes. 103 Diamond Lakes Road. October 15-October 19, October 21-October 26, October 28-November 1, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Absentee drop box, Municipal Building, 535 Telfair Street. October 15 – October 19, October 21 – November 1, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Columbia County Early Voting Locations and Schedule:

• October 28 to November 1 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Building G3 (Board of Elections), 610 Ronald Reagan Drive in Evans.
• The former Euchee Creek Library, 5907 Euchee Creek Drive in Grovetown.
• Columbia County School District Support Services Complex, 4395 Riverwatch Parkway in Evans.

Voters must present one of these photo IDs when voting:

• Any valid state or federally issued photo ID, including a free ID card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
• Georgian driving license, even if expired.
• A valid employee photo identification from any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of the ‘State.
• Valid US Passport ID Card.
• A valid U.S. military photo ID containing a photo of the voter.
• Student photo identification card issued by a Georgia public college, university, or technical school.
• A valid tribal photo ID containing your photo.

Voters who are unable to provide photo identification may vote through a provisional ballot. They will need to provide a copy of their ID within three days of the election to their county’s board of elections and registration.

You can view other early voting locations and a sample ballot based on your registration. online.

Aiken County Early Voting Locations and Schedule:

Across the river, early voting hours in South Carolina are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Aiken County Elections Office, 1930 University Parkway, Suite 1200
• North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Avenue
• Roy Warner Park of Aiken County, 4287 Festival Trail Road, Wagener
• O’Dell Weeks Recreation Center, 1700 Whiskey Road

Edgefield County locations and schedule for advance voting:

• Board of Voter Registration and Elections Office, 210 Penn Street, Suite 1
• The Sweetwater Community Center, 296 Sweetwater Road, North Augusta

SC Votes offers a complete list of where people can go on their early voting page, organized by county.

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