38,009 people voted early in person in Richmond County, 4,431 on the final day, and 2,347 mail ballots are back. How to vote on Election Day, Nov. 3.
Advance voting for the Nov. 3 election is over in Richmond County, and 38,009 voters cast a ballot in person. The last day was the busiest of all: 4,431 people voted on Friday, Oct. 30.
Updated Oct. 31: this story first reported the figures through Oct. 24, then through Oct. 29. It now carries the board’s final advance voting totals, including Friday’s count.
The Richmond County Board of Elections counted 38,009 in-person advance votes from Tuesday, Oct. 13, through Friday, Oct. 30. The figures are in the board’s absentee and advance daily report (PDF). That total includes 400 votes cast on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Municipal Building, the only site open that day.
Mail voting adds to that. The board had issued 3,095 absentee ballots and received 2,347 completed ones back, by the same report. It had rejected nine. Together, that is 40,356 ballots in hand before Election Day.
Where people voted
Voters could use any of the four advance voting sites. The Robert Howard Community Center was the busiest:
| Site | In-person votes, Oct. 13-30 |
|---|---|
| Robert Howard Community Center, 103 Diamond Lakes Way | 11,004 |
| Warren Road Recreation Center, 300 Warren Road | 10,013 |
| Linda W. Beazley Community Room, Municipal Building, 535 Telfair St. | 8,547 |
| Henry Brigham Community Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road | 8,445 |
| Total | 38,009 |
The busiest days
The final day was the biggest. On Friday, Oct. 30, 4,431 people voted, more than on any other day. Every site had its busiest day of the period that Friday, from 932 at the Municipal Building to 1,225 at the Robert Howard Community Center.
Opening day came next. On Tuesday, Oct. 13, 3,108 people voted. Weekday turnout then settled at about 1,800 to 2,600 a day. The final week ran steadily higher, from 2,318 on Monday to 2,616 on Thursday before Friday’s jump. The two Saturdays drew 1,112 votes on Oct. 17 and 1,452 on Oct. 24.
Absentee ballots went out in a rush at the start. The board issued 1,836 on Oct. 5, the day mailing began, after 120 issued earlier. Returns picked up once advance voting opened. The board logged 310 back on Oct. 15, 320 on Oct. 20 and 144 on the last day, Oct. 30.
What it means for you
Advance voting ended Friday, Oct. 30. If you have not voted yet, here is what is left, according to the board’s voting information release (PDF):
- No voting Monday, Nov. 2. There is no advance voting the day before the election.
- Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at your assigned polling place only. Find it on the Georgia My Voter Page.
Bring an acceptable photo ID. A Georgia driver’s license works even if it has expired.
If you have an absentee ballot, the board must receive it by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Ballots can go back by mail or through an authorized drop box. With the election days away, a ballot mailed now may not arrive in time.
The ballot has 29 contests in Richmond County, according to the Secretary of State’s results page. The county’s sample ballot includes five school board seats and three statewide constitutional amendments. Our guide to the Nov. 3 ballot walks through them. Our voting guide has the ID rules and polling place details.
What happens after Election Day
The Board of Elections will hold its regular monthly meeting and its precertification and certification meetings at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at its warehouse, 2029 Lumpkin Road. The public is welcome, the board said in its meeting notice. Results posted on election night are unofficial until the board certifies them.
The Board of Elections is at 535 Telfair St., Suite 500, and answers questions at 706-821-2340.
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