Election Day Notes, Reminders and Tips

Today is Election Day, and WNEG News reminds our listeners that polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today; and anyone who is in line to vote by 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. All Voting will take place at the Historic Courthouse, 70 N. Alexander Street in Downtown Toccoa. No voting will take place at the senior center. 

Election officials note that state law bans any form of campaigning by candidates or any other individual or group within 150 of a voting location; this includes the handing out of water and food to those waiting in line to vote as well as posting signs or handing out pamphlets. It also means that voters cannot have signs on vehicles parked within 150 feet of the polling location and cannot wear shirts, hats, jackets or other clothing with the name of a candidate, political party or slogan. Exit or opinion polling may not be conducted within 25 feet of the doorway to the polling location.

Other voting regulations and allowances to remember include Any voter who is 75 years of age or older, or who is disabled and requires assistance in voting, may vote immediately at the next available voting compartment or booth without having to wait in line, Parents can take their minor children into the voting booth with them. Photos inside the polling location are forbidden; including photos of your ballot. 

All parking in the new parking lot at the entrance to the Historic Courthouse is reserved during the election for handicap and elderly parking. Additional handicap and elderly parking is available on Sage Street between Doyle and Alexander. Parking for voters is available across Alexander Street from the Courthouse, as well as additional downtown parking. In addition, election staff will be operating shuttle service to and from parking lots around downtown throughout the day, Election Supervisor Bruce Carlisle told WNEG News.

Carlisle also stressed that all absentee ballots must be at the turned it at the election office or at the local post office, 41 Falls Rd, no later than 7 p.m. this evening, Nov. 5.

WNEG News will be at the Stephens County Elections Office following the close of polls and will provide updates on wnegradio.com and on our Facebook page as results become available. All results will be preliminary and unofficial until certified later in the week. 

For more information, contact Carlisle or Deputy Election Supervisor Isaac Overstreet at 706-886-8954.