Early voting under way

“Advance” voting will expand the opportunities the week of Oct. 25-29. Voting will still be available at the Administrative Building, but will also be available at the Commerce Recreation Department office at 304 Carson Street and the Braselton municipal building, and hours at all three locations will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters do not have to offer any reason for voting early, but they must have photo ID issued by some government. The following are accepted: a Georgia Driver’s License, even if expired; a 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; a valid U.S. passport, valid U.S. military photo; a valid tribal photo ID and any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free voter ID card issued by the county registrars office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).

Absentee ballots are also available and must be requested in writing from the registrar’s office.

“People can call us (706-377-6377) or go online and download a form from the secretary of state’s website,” Fulcher said.

The form can be found under the VIP (My Voter Page) tab, where all the pertinent information can be found, along with a sample ballot. Or, a voter can go to jacksoncountygov.com, look under the “government” drop-down box, click on “S-Z” to find voter registration, then click on the “SOS” website, which will take the voter off the Jackson County page to the VIP page on the secretary of state’s website.

No photo ID is required to vote absentee; the registrar’s office will compare signatures to verify ballots.

The last day the registrar can send out an absentee ballot is Friday, Oct. 29.