Many Georgians, particularly in this area, can be excused if they feel a bit of voter fatigue. With special, primary and run-off elections under their belts this year, some diligent voters already have been to the polls four times. They'll have the opportunity to cast a fifth ballot in the general election on Nov. 2. They won't have to wait until that day to vote, though. Early voting in all Georgia counties begins Monday and concludes on Friday, Oct. 29.
There are some restrictions on early voting. Not all polling stations will be open for the entire period. In many instances, voters will have to go to their county election office to cast an early ballot during the first couple of weeks in the period. Later, as Election Day draws closer, additional satellite stations will open, providing voters a chance to cast a ballot close to home. The full complement of polling stations across the state will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Since times and locations for early voting are not uniform across Georgia, the best way to ascertain when and where a vote can be cast is to either call the proper county election office or to visit the Georgia secretary of state's innovative My Voter Page (MVP).
The former can provide personalized answers to specific questions. The latter, which is accessible at http://www.sos.ga.gov/mvp, allows voters to view a sample ballot, to find early voting and Election Day polling stations in their county, to check registration status, to track the status of an absentee ballot, to obtain information about mail-in ballots and more. It is an extremely useful and instructive Web site.
Georgia voters - but not those in Tennessee - who cast ballots in person during early voting or on Election Day are required to show a photo ID. A driver's license, even if it is expired, a U.S. passport and U.S. military photo ID are among those accepted. For those without an ID, they generally are obtainable at a county registrar's office or at a Georgia Department of Driver Services. A photo ID is not required when voting by mail.
In Tennessee, early voting starts Oct. 13 and ends Oct. 28. In Hamilton County, early voting stations will be at Election Commission offices just off Amnicola Highway, at the Brainerd Recreation Center on North Moore Road and at Northgate Mall.
Early voting is an increasingly popular option in the region. That's hardly a wonder. It fills a need, and the process is simple. It provides a broader time frame to vote for those worried that something might prevent them from doing so on Election Day, and all that is required is that a registered voter appear at a site at an appropriate time. It's a wonderful way to do one's civic duty and to participate in the democratic experience.