Early voting totals have soared past 32,000 for a key April 18 special election that includes the nationally watched race to replace former U.S. Rep. Tom Price.
Early voting in Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton counties for the election started March 27 and ends Friday, with each county as of this week opening at least two polling locations where eligible residents can cast ballots.
Voting will then resume Tuesday on Election Day.
The 6th Congressional District that Price represented covers parts of each of those three counties and features 18 candidates.
The other race on the ballot is for Senate District 32, which covers parts of Cobb and Fulton counties. Former state Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, vacated the seat to join the field running to replace Price.
According to the latest early-voting numbers available Wednesday from the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office:
- Number of ballots cast: 32,363
- Number of ballots voted in person: 28,498
- Number of mail-in ballots returned: 3,865
- Number of mail-in ballots outstanding: 5,306
Turnout for special elections are usually tricky to predict. The last time a special election was held in the same congressional district in 1999, it drew more than 79,200 voters.
How to vote early
Any voter registered in those districts can vote early.
Check before you go: These are not your regular neighborhood polling places. The municipalities are only opening select sites during the early-voting period.
Use the Secretary of State Office's online "my voter page" website (www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do) to find a specific early-voting location or to see a sample ballot.
You can also call your local elections office to find early-voting locations or look for the "advance voting info" link under the elections tab of the Secretary of State Office's website (www.sos.ga.gov).
Don’t forget to bring photo identification, which can include a Georgia driver’s license, even if it’s expired; a state-issued voter identification card; a valid U.S. passport; or a valid U.S. military photo ID.
No “ballot selfies” are allowed at the polls, so wait to snap a photo until you’re outside. It is illegal in Georgia to take pictures of a ballot or voting equipment, but the Secretary of State Office has said it has seen voters in previous elections post “ballot selfies” on social media — something that could get you in trouble with the law.
Information about local elections and your “My Voter Page” can also be found on the free “GA SOS” app for your smartphone via iTunes or Google Play for Android.
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