Dougherty County Election Board approves extended voting for presidential election
File Photo: Alan Mauldin
By Alan Mauldin
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ALBANY – Dougherty County voting officials are looking to boost turnout for the 2024 presidential election with the addition of a Sunday date during the early voting period and extended hours on two days.
The Dougherty County Board of Registration and Elections on Wednesday unanimously approved adding Oct. 7 to the voting calendar and extending voting hours to 7 p.m. on two Thursdays, Oct. 17 and 24.
Two state-mandated Saturday voting dates are scheduled Oct. 19 and 26.
The three-week advance early voting period will begin on Oct. 15 and end on Nov. 1 ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
The Dougherty County Democratic Committee made the request for the Sunday voting opportunity and extended hours.
“We are enthused about the approval of the extension of voting hours,” Dougherty County Democratic Chair Joyce Barlow said.
A number of speakers showed up on Wednesday in support of the request, she said.
“This (extended hours) will help those who can’t get off work, have childcare issues or management will not allow them to leave to vote,” Barlow said. “They can get off work and have time to go in and vote after work. That’s a major reason we put our request in.”
The committee will work to get the word out about the additional voting opportunities, she said.
The Democratic Committee made a similar request ahead of the general primary and nonpartisan election in May, with the election board approving about half of what was asked for.
“This time it was unanimous, and our full request was authorized and approved,” Barlow said. “Now we just have to get the word out to let people know.”
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