Early Voting Off to a Slow Start
A reminder that advance or early voting is now underway for the November municipal and special elections in Hart and Franklin Counties.
Early voting continues Monday through Friday until November 1st.
In Franklin County, voters are deciding on a number of municipal city council races in five municipalities.
The Franklin County Elections and Registrations office is handling four of those elections in Carnesville, Canon, Lavonia, and Franklin Springs.
According to Franklin County Elections Superintendent Tess Eubanks, so far this week, only one voter has stopped her Carnesville office to cast an early ballot.
“It has been very slow so far,” she said.
Royston is conducting its own city council and mayoral election.
As of Thursday, Royston City Clerk Gloria Brown said about eight voters have cast an early ballot at Royston City Hall.
But it’s a different story in Hart County, where voters are deciding on a Hartwell City Council seat, a mayoral race, a Hart County Commission District 3 seat, and two SPLOST referendums.
Hart County Chief Registrar John Stercho said interest in early voting is picking up.
“We’re on par with where we were during the last election, which was for the Hart County Magistrate Judge,” said new Hart County Chief Registrar John Stercho. “We’re right at 40.”
Stercho said that according to former Chief Registrar Libby Forbes, the first couple of days in early voting tend to be slow, but then it begins to pick up as the election gets closer.
This election, voters in Hart County are casting their early ballots at the new Registrar office at 182 Cade St. in Hartwell.
Stercho says so far, no one has had a problem finding the office.
“I haven’t heard any problems or complications from voters coming in so far,” he said. “We had one call this week from a voter seeking clarification on where we are, but we’re easy to find. We’re right across the street from the old hospital.”
Last week, the Hart County Board of Commissioners approved extra funding for the Registrar’s office in order for Stercho to hire part-time help.
Stercho said having former Chief Registrar Libby Forbes helping with what is his first election, is necessary.
“The only reason we’re getting the extra help is because we have three new board members and I am new,” he said. “So I called in the previous chief registrar so I could get some on-the-job training while we’re in the midst of an election. I felt it was justified in that we would be protecting our voters and the voting integrity of our office.”
Any Hart County voters with questions about the November elections can contact the Hart County Registrar’s office at 706-376-8911. Franklin County voters may call the Elections and Registrations office 706-384-4390 or Royston City Hall at 706-245-7232.