Georgia Secretary of State Handel Announces Advance Voting Week Figures

Secretary of State Karen Handel announced today voter turnout figures from the Georgia Presidential Preference Primary advance voting week. Voters were able to cast ballots at their county’s advance voting centers from Monday, January 28 through Friday, February 1, 2008.

“These numbers demonstrate Georgian’s interest in the Presidential Primary as well as their interest in the convenience of advance voting,” said Secretary Handel.

Monday
22,456

Tuesday
34,651

Wednesday
38,073

Thursday
42,679

Friday
65,761

Total Advance Week Voters
203,620

In addition to these early voters, 44,277 people have cast absentee ballots, either by mail or in office. To date, nearly 248,000 absentee and in-person advance votes have been cast in Georgia’s Presidential Preference Primary.

Secretary Handel also anticipates a large turn-out on Election Day, Tuesday, February 5, 2008. Handel projects turnout will be in excess of 30 percent.

“The nomination contests in each party appear highly competitive,” Handel said.

Voters will probably experience lines at polling places during peak times, which are historically from 7:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 pm, and during the mid-day lunch hour.

In addition, Secretary Handel reminded voters to bring photo ID with them when they vote. Voters will be required to show one of the following six forms of photo ID when voting in-person on Election Day:

A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired;
Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS);
Valid U.S. passport;
Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
Valid U.S. military photo ID; or
Valid tribal photo ID.

If a voter does not have one of these forms of photo identification, they can obtain a FREE Voter ID card at their county registrars’ office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Contact information for county registrars can be found on the Secretary of State’s website: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/voter_information/2000_voter_info.asp.

Polls will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2008. Voters can find voter registration information, including polling locations and legislative districts, by visiting http://sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/locator.asp or by calling (888) 265-1115.

Anyone with additional questions about Georgia’s photo ID requirements can visit www.GAPhotoID.com or call toll free (877) 725-9797.