Today is the last day to early vote in Georgia as state continues to smash records

ATLANTA — Today is the last day to early vote across Georgia and it’s been a popular voting method so far this election.

The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office says more than 2.2 million people have voted already. That includes 2 million people who cast their votes in-person and more than 280,000 absentee ballots.

Most polls across the state will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the final day of early voting. You can find your county’s early voting locations and times on the Secretary of State’s website or your local elections office’s website.

Unlike Election Day, you do not have to vote at an assigned polling location during early voting. You may vote at any early voting location within your county. You will need to show one of seven forms of photo ID to vote in person.

For absentee ballots, you have until the time polls close on Election Day to return your ballot by mail or in a drop box. According to the new voting law, drop boxes are located inside early voting locations.

YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE

• How do you vote by absentee ballot in Georgia?
• Nearly 2 million people have already voted across Georgia
• WATCH FULL DEBATE: Kemp, Abrams face off for final time before election day for Georgia governor

Georgia has been smashing early voting records almost every day.

“I want to make sure my vote matters and I have a voice. And I think it’s best to get in and vote early and not wait around for the long lines,” voter Marcia Lovely of Stone Mountain said.

It’s that fear of long lines and other problems on Election Day that elections officials say is driving people to vote early.

Gwinnett’s election chief Zach Manifold told Channel 2′s Richard Elliot that voting early is the way to go to avoid unforeseen issues.

“I tell people, ‘Don’t wait until Election Day unless you really have to,’ because you never know, an illness or something that pops up,” Manifold said.

DeKalb elections supervisor Keisha Smith said while there were some long lines early on in the early voting process, there’s hardly any lines at polling locations now — but still a lot of enthusiasm.

“The lines have reduced here in DeKalb County, but the excitement has not wavered, so voters are still coming in,” Smith said.

The Secretary of State’s website has a data website that tracks early voting, absentee ballots and voting turnouts. You can view the data for your county here.

IN OTHER NEWS

Several counties testing out new system election leaders believe will make early voting more secure Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne got a first-hand look at the new project.

©2022 Cox Media Group