Election Season Gearing Up in Stephens Co.

Election season is heating up one more time in Stephens County.

This November, Stephens County voters will join the rest the country in picking a president.

Also, Stephens County voters will be choosing a State Court Solicitor as current Solicitor Willie Woodruff runs against challenger Ann Pickett.

There is also a U.S. Senate race on the ballot as Johnny Isakson runs for re-election, while voters will also vote in a Public Service Commission race and decide on a host of proposed state constitutional amendments.

Stephens County Registrar Bill Cochran reminded residents that for those not registered to vote, the deadline to get registered in order to vote in this election is October 11 at 5 p.m.

“We have seen a lot of registration activity in the county and we are also hearing that it is statewide,” said Cochran. “A lot of people are registering to vote for the first time or re-registering if their registration had cancelled or gone out of date.”

To register to vote, go online to www.sos.ga.gov or visit the Stephens County Registrar’s Office, located in the Stephens County Courthouse Annex on Tugalo Street in downtown Toccoa.

Meanwhile, some people have already voted by paper, mail-in absentee ballot.

Cochran said demand for those ballots has been high in Stephens County.

“We have already sent out 345 absentee ballots, which are the paper ballots,” said Cochran, who said 36 military and overseas absentee ballots had also gone out already.

Cochran said anyone who is 65 or over or disabled and had received an absentee ballot for the local primary election earlier this year, will receive a paper ballot this time.

Anyone else wanting a paper ballot should contact the Registrar’s Office for an application.

For those wanting to vote in person, Cochran said early voting on the machines will begin October 17 at the Stephens County Registrar’s Office.

“Early voting will begin on October 17 at 8 a.m. and go from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every business day, Monday through Friday, through November 4,” said Cochran. “We will have a Saturday vote at the Registrar’s Office on October 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.”

Cochran went on to say that people should vote early if they know who they are voting for in order to avoid expected long lines on Election Day.

“We are expecting somewhere around 10,000 voters to come out for this election, which means there will be long lines on Election Day at the Senior Center,” said Cochran. “We are putting out all the equipment we can fit in down there, but do not expect it to be as fast as it has been in the past because we do expect a tremendous turnout.”

Anyone with questions on voting should contact the Stephens County Registrar’s Office at 706-886-8954.

People can also pick up sample ballots at the Registrar’s Office or by going to “My Voter Page” at the Georgia Secretary of State’s office website, www.sos.ga.gov.