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Walker County: Early voting is gaining popularity

By: Mike O'Neal
(Contact)

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Barbara Berry

Early and advance voting is gaining in popularity with Georgians.

“Absentee, early and advance voting accounted for about one-third of the ballots cast in our county during the general election,” Walker County Election Supervisor Barbara Berry said.

Compared to the 422,485 who early voted during the 2004 presidential election, state officials said more than 2 million voters — more than 53 percent of those voting — cast ballots during an early voting period of Sept. 22 through Oct. 31.

Several local and statewide races require runoffs following this week’s general election, but which ones will not be known until results are certified, probably early next week, according Matt Carrothers, spokesman for Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel.

Runoff elections will take place Dec. 2, and abbreviated early voting will most likely take place the three days before Thanksgiving, Mr. Carrothers said.

Runoffs might include statewide races for U.S. Senate and the state court of appeals. Also on the runoff ballot will be contests for magistrates in Whitfield and Dade counties and a judgeship for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit that includes Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties, officials said.

Early voting will take place at county election offices and no satellite offices will used, but all precincts will be open and staffed by poll workers on Dec. 2, officials said.

“This election cycle started in December of 2007 for the presidential preference early voting,” said Larry Cooper, vice chairman of the Dade County Board of Elections and Registration. “We’ve been going non-stop ever since.”

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