Citizens only have until next Monday, Oct. 5, to register to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 3 general election.
Grady County election officials are predicting a high turnout with the hotly contested race for U.S. president on the ballot, but also a number of other races, including sheriff of Grady County.
Grady County chief registrar Malinda Butler reports that 414 local voters have already cast their absentee ballots and returned them to the Board of Registrars.
According to Butler, 2,743 absentee ballots have been requested as of Tuesday and of those, 2,347 have already been mailed out to voters who applied for them.
The last day for voters to apply for an absentee ballot is Oct. 30, which is also the last day of advance in-person voting.
Early voting begins at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 12 and ends at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. The hours for advance voting each weekday is 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Voters will have the opportunity to vote on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Grady County Courthouse between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Due to a slowdown in delivery of mail, many groups are encouraging voters to cast their ballot and return them as soon as possible, not wait until closer to election day.
Chief registrar Butler says, so far, more ballots have been returned by mail, but she reminds voters who cast absentee ballots that they may be dropped off at the secure drop box located behind the Grady County Courthouse.
“We want to help keep everyone safe, so if you feel more comfortable voting absentee rather than in-person, then please apply for an absentee ballot,” election superintendent Denise Maddox said.
Judge Maddox says that at the courthouse during advance voting as well as at the polls on election day, voters will be asked to maintain social distancing and encouraged to wear masks.
