Laurens County, early voting begins TODAY

Laurens County voters can get a jump on Election Day when advance voting begins today, Tuesday, October 13.

Several key federal and state races are on the ballot, including governor, U.S. Senate and state representative, as well as a local referendum on a new sales tax aimed at reducing property taxes. 

Early voting begins at the Board of Elections office at the county annex and continues through Oct. 30. Weekday hours will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Voters can also cast advance ballots on Saturdays, Oct. 17 and 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We are open during lunch,” said Chief Deputy Registrar Susan Rooks. 

Residents planning to vote by absentee have until Oct. 23 to request a ballot.

“The ballot application has to be in our hands by that day. You can file it online, but it has to be in our office,” Rooks said.

As of last Thursday, the Board of Elections had received 680 absentee ballots.

“We usually have more than that for a governor’s race. We usually have 800 or 900 by now,” Rooks said.

Only advance voting will be held at the elections office, located in Suite A at 117 E. Jackson St. On Election Day, Nov. 3, voters must cast their ballots at their respective precincts.

“They can contact us to find out where to go,” Rooks said.

She reminded voters that cellphones and other electrical devices are not allowed at polling places.

“You can’t use your phone, your Apple Watch or ear buds in the precincts. If you want to write something down to take with you to vote or take a sample ballot in, you can.”

For more information about voting, call the board of elections office at (478) 272-2841 or visit www.laurenscoga.org and click on My Voter Page.