29% of Fannin County Has Already Voted in the General Election

As of noon Thursday, Nov. 3^rd , 5,218 Fannin voters have already voted in early voting.  Fannin County has 17,932 registered voters. Friday, Nov. 4^th is the last day of early voting, which you can do from 9-5pm at the Board of Elections at the Fannin County Courthouse.  The next time you can vote is on the official Election Day, Tues. Nov. 8^th.  Polls will be open from 7am-7pm.  Sonia Smith, Chair of  Fannin’s Board of Elections asks everyone to have patience at the polls on Tuesday as the voter turnout is expected to be “huge.”

Below the article the address for Fannin polling places.  If you are unsure of your registration status or unsure of your poll location, you can always ask for a provisional ballot.  In the few days after the election, Fannin Board of Elections will review your provisional ballot to see if it is valid.  Official election results usually aren’t released until the Friday after Election Day.

Smith said that all 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.

In Georgia, voters cannot change their votes after the vote has been cast said Smith.  Some national media outlets have told voters it is possible to change their votes.  While that is possible in some states, that is not the law in Georgia said Smith.

As for all the early election ballots that have been cast, they are sitting sealed at the Board of Elections.  The seal will not be open and early voting ballots read until 7 pm on Election Day, the same time all polling locations in Fannin will be tallying votes.  The only information Board of Elections has at this time is how many people have voted.  They do not know how many voters are Republicans or Democrats as Georgia doesn’t register voters according to political party.

Poll watching has also been in the national news.  Chuck Cook of Fannin’s Board of Elections said that no one has registered to be a certified poll watcher in Fannin County.  According to Georgia law, the only people who can stay at a polling place for a period of time to watch for voter fraud are people who are certified through Georgia Secretary of State’s office.  The time for poll watching certification is closed.

For more information about security of Fannin County elections and potential for voter fraud see FetchYourNews’ article “Poll Watching for Voter Fraud” published Oct.10^th .  Smith invites anyone who has questions about the security of Fannin elections to come to the Board of Elections after Nov. 7^th and she will be happy to explain the security to you.

Smith has one more piece of information about the elections.  “There is no excuse for not voting.  Early voting has made it so easy.  Polls are opened from 9-5 during early voting days and open on Saturday (Oct. 29^th) for voting.  Precincts are open from 7 am to 7 pm on Election Day,” said Smith.