Richmond and Columbia County voters flocked to the polls Tuesday and Wednesday, setting early voting records in the Nov. 5 general election.
Statewide, nearly 620,000 of 8.6% had cast ballots by the end of Wednesday, according to a tweet from Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer for the state’s elections. “Again… massive numbers,” Sterling said.
Besides choosing a president, voters in Richmond and Columbia counties are asked to elect state House and Senate members and decide school system 1% sales tax referendums.
In Richmond and Columbia counties, advance voting trailed the state, while Richmond set a record for the first day, Elections Director Travis Doss said.
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Some 8,611 or almost 7% of Richmond County voters cast ballots at one of four advance voting sites Tuesday and Wednesday.
The heaviest voting both Tuesday and Wednesday was at the Robert Howard Community Center at Diamond Lakes Regional Park. There, 1,416 voted Tuesday and 1,229 voted Wednesday for about 2% total turnout.
Some 1,266 voted Tuesday at the Linda Beazley Room at the Augusta Municipal Building and 1,079 Wednesday, for 2,345 or 1.8% total turnout.
At Warren Road Community Center, 2,132 voted Tuesday and Wednesday. At the Henry Brigham Center, 1,489 voted.
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In addition, Richmond County has issued 9,491 absentee ballots by mail and 157 of them have been returned.
Columbia County, which has fewer registered voters, had nearly as many voted early as Richmond. According to Director Nancy Gay, nearly 4,100 voted Tuesday and 8,266 had voted by the end of Wednesday.
“Holy smokes!” she said.
Registered voters may cast early ballots for any reason at the following sites. Voters must use their assigned polling places on Election Day.
Richmond County
- Linda W. Beazley Community Room at Augusta Municipal Building, 535 Telfair St., Augusta
- Henry Brigham Community Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road, Augusta
- Robert Howard Community Center, 103 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah
- Warren Road Recreation Center, 300 Warren Road, Augusta
Columbia County
- Board of Elections office (Building G3), 610 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans
- Former Euchee Creek Library, 5907 Euchee Creek Drive, Grovetown
- Columbia County Board of Education Support Complex, 4395 River Watch Pkwy., Evans
