Strong turnout for early voting in Cobb Co.

Looking over the sample ballots at the West Park Government Center, Monday, Oct,13, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Today, early voters in Cobb County waited patiently on line to cast their ballot in over 60 national, state and local races.

Voters waited upwards of an hour and a half to cast their ballots – a process that took about ten minutes.

Shannon Dunn is the director of elections and registration for Cobb County:

"As of Friday evening, we had voted 17,000 plus, in person here.”

Election officials at the West Park Government Center kept order as the line of voters snaked towards the entrance.

Numerous signs forbid electioneering within 150 feet of the building.

No campaigning with 150 feet of the West Park Government Center polling station, Monday, Oct 13, 2008. (Dave Bender)

One voter who appreciated that strictly-enforced rule is Florence Cadran, Massachusetts -born, but now a resident of Cobb County:

“I don’t remember them having the early voting in Massachusetts – but when I’d go there’d be 30-40 people from every different politician that was there with their signs – in your face – so it was almost like walking through a corridor to get to the voting place, so this is much nicer.”

Voters waited patiently in line to cast their ballots, Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, (Dave Bender)

Dunn she’s not spooked by the prospect of early voting concluding on October 31st -- Halloween eve.

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Voter Guidelines for Upcoming Primaries

Secretary of State Karen Handel today reminded voters that the deadline to register to vote and be eligible to cast a ballot in the February 5 Presidential Preference Primary is Monday, January 7.

Here are the rules, according to a statement released by Handel's office:

To register to vote in Georgia, you must be a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you wish to vote, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. You may not register to vote if you are currently serving any sentence imposed by the conviction of a felony or judicially determined to be mentally incompetent.

You can download and complete a voter registration application by visiting the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.georgia.gov/elections. You can also contact your local county registrars' office, public library, public assistance office, recruitment office, schools and other government offices for a mail-in registration form. Voter Registration is offered when renewing or applying for a driver's license at any Georgia Department of Driver Services office. College students can obtain Georgia voter registration forms from their school registrar's office or from the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Georgia law requires registered voters to show photo identification when voting in person. This photo identification requirement applies in the February 5 Presidential Preference Primary and all future elections. When voting absentee by mail, photo identification is not required.

Voters casting ballots in person, either through early voting or on Election Day, will be required to show one of the following forms of acceptable photo ID when they vote:

• 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.
  
  Voters who have questions are encouraged to call the Georgia Secretary of State’s Voter ID Hotline at (877) 725-9797 or visit www.GaPhotoID.com.
  
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