Voters can start earlier this year

Beginning with November's election, Georgia will offer an even earlier voting opportunity, according to Richmond County Board of Elections Executive Director Lynn Bailey.

"With early voting, voters may begin casting their vote for president as early as Monday, Sept. 22," Mrs. Bailey said.

Early voting will run Monday through Friday through Oct. 24 in the Board of Elections Office, Room 104, 530 Greene St.

Early voting, which will lead to advance voting week, will be available in that office during regular office hours -- 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

In Columbia County, those voting early can do so at the Board of Elections office, 500 Faircloth Drive, Evans. Voting hours are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

People who vote early must provide one of the six forms of acceptable photo identification, but they don't need to provide a reason for casting their ballot early, Mrs. Bailey said.

Voting by mail is also an option for Georgia voters, she said.

Voting by mail begins Monday and will run through Oct. 31. Anyone wishing to vote by mail must first submit a written request to the Board of Elections Office by mail or fax.

The request must contain the voter's name and address as registered, date of birth and the date of the election, and it must be signed.

Voters do not have to provide a reason for voting by mail and do not have to produce one of the six acceptable forms of identification.

Requests should be mailed to the Board of Elections, 530 Greene St., Room 104, Augusta, GA 30901, or faxed to (706) 821-2814.

The address in Columbia County is Columbia County Board of Elections, P.O. Box 919, Evans, GA 30809. Mailed ballots in Columbia County must be at the Evans Post Office by 5 p.m. on Election Day, according to the Board of Elections Web site.

Advance voting will begin Oct. 27-31. Sample ballots can be downloaded from the Richmond County Board of Elections Web site at www.augustaga.gov. Call (706) 821-2340 for more information.

Three Richmond County sites will be open for voting that week: the Board of Elections Office, the Henry H. Brigham Community Center, and the Warren Road Recreation Center. Voting hours will be extended until 6 p.m. every day that week.

Advance voting week in Columbia County will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at the Columbia County Board of Elections Office; Savannah Rapids Pavilion, 3300 Evans to Locks Road, Martinez; and Patriots Park, 5445 Columbia Road, Grovetown.

The voter registration deadline for the November election is Oct. 6.

"Voters should get ready to vote now by confirming their registration status, making sure that they know where their polling place is, and getting a sample ballot in advance of voting," Mrs. Bailey said.

If a person has registered to vote in the past but has not had any contact with the elections board by casting a ballot or otherwise since 2000, that person might have been removed from the list of voters.

"If they are doubtful in the least as to whether or not they are registered, they need to confirm their status by going online to the Board of Elections Web site or by calling the Board of Elections Office before Oct. 6," Mrs. Bailey said.

Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228 or sylvia.cooper@augustachronicle.com.