Crowds descend on the Albany Civic Center for first week of early voting

ALBANY – Southwest Georgia voters are matching the enthusiasm of their counterparts across the state who set records during the first days of early voting in the 2024 election this week.

In Dougherty County, 1,460 voters cast ballots on Tuesday, the first opportunity for Georgia residents to head to the polls ahead of the Nov. 5 general election that, of course, includes the presidential race.

At the Albany Civic Center on Wednesday, the lunch-hour line was long, but not as long as it was the first thing in the morning.

“We broke a record yesterday,” the Rev. Donny Green, a former poll worker who was working as a volunteer on Wednesday, said. “We don’t get that much in any election. That’s a pretty good number in Dougherty County, especially when your average is 17% of registered voters.”

The enthusiasm started early, ahead of the 9 a.m. opening of the polls, the minister said.

“At 8 o’clock, you had people in here already,” he said.

Green estimated the wait time for voters at around noon on Wednesday was 45 minutes. At 9 a.m. that morning, he said, the line was stretching across the lobby of the Civic Center and down a hallway, indicating that it was several times the length of the line formed at lunchtime Wednesday.

For Dougherty County Elections Supervisor Ginger Nickerson, the turnout so far looks hopeful.

“The first day was a huge day for all of us,” she said. “Hopefully that is the beginning of building the momentum, and hopefully this will continue. We’re excited and grateful.”

Nickerson said she also was optimistic that the first weekend voting opportunity during the three-week early voting period on Saturday would be a big day, as it coincided with Albany State University’s homecoming, which will bring a large crowd downtown for a parade and football game at the nearby stadium.

Poll workers are prepared for the rush, she said.

In Dougherty County the Civic Center polling site will be open weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 1. There will be an extended-hours day on Thursday, with polls staying open until 7 p.m. Other planned weekend voting dates are Oct. 26, when polls will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and on Oct. 27, from 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

The last day to request an absentee ballot is Friday.

Voters statewide can get details about voting for the Nov. 5 election, including sample ballots and dates and locations for early voting and in-person on the day of the election by visiting https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/.

File Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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