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Almost Half of Athens Voters Have Already Cast Their Ballots

While Athens-Clarke County lagged behind most other counties in Georgia at the beginning of the three-week early voting period, it’s now catching up with turnout at 47% as of the end of Wednesday, about the state average.

The in-person early voting tally across the state has been much higher than in 2020 — no surprise given that the election four years took place in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and voting by mail was encouraged.

Director of Elections and Voter Registration Charlotte Sosebee gave the ACC Board of Elections an update on early voting at a Tuesday meeting. During the first week, 7,345 people voted. That figure rose to 11,381 during the second week and stood at 5,218 at the close of business on Monday, for a total of 23,944 in-person voters as of Oct. 28.

“We’ve exceeded what we did in advance voting in 2020,” Sosebee said.

The advance voting period ends Friday. After that, the only remaining opportunity to vote will be on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 5.

In addition to in-person votes, 4,407 absentee ballots had been issued and 2,416 returned as of Monday, bringing the total number of votes cast for 2024 to 26,360.

While at this late date it would be risky to return an absentee ballot by mail, voters can bring them to the county election office on Washington Street next to City Hall during business hours or to a 24/7 secure dropbox at the Lyndon House Arts Center, 211 Hoyt St. Voters can also relinquish their blank absentee ballot and cast one in person.

Athens has a little over 71,000 active registered voters. Sosebee told Flagpole she expects about 50,000 of them to vote, which would put turnout at around 70%. It was 67% in 2020.

Sosebee also informed the board about a mix-up involving 725 voters who were accidentally sent two absentee ballots. She said that the voters were informed, and that safeguards are in place to ensure no one is able to vote twice.

“Whichever ballot is received first is the one that would be counted,” she said.

Board members were satisfied with her explanation. “It’s unfortunate, but I’m relieved and assuaged,” Adam Shirley said.

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