Early Voter Turnout Smashes Previous Record

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Voters have turned out in record numbers in Dawson County to cast their votes in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Director of Elections and Registration Glenda Ferguson said Friday that more than 7,554 of the county’s 14,591 active registered voters had voted by close of business Thursday and the poll will remain open until 5 p.m. today.

“Voting has gone very smoothly,” she said. “We’ve had an excellent turnout and there has been very little waiting so far.”

The previous record for advanced, in-person voting was 6,612, set during the 2012 Presidential Election. “We had 486 who cast ballots Thursday and we expect at least that many today,” she said.

Ferguson reminds voters that the poll will remain open until 7 p.m. today and that they must have identification with them.

Voters are not allowed to wear shirts, caps or other apparel that advertises a candidate’s name.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8 when all Dawson County precincts will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Absentee ballots must be at the Board of Elections by time polls close on Tuesday.  Since it is so close to Election Day, if you haven’t mailed your ballot yet, the best way to make sure your vote is counted is to deliver it by hand to the Board of Elections.  Even if your ballot is postmarked by Nov. 8^th, it will not be read if it arrives at the Board of Elections after Nov. 8^th.