Putnam County voters were slow to go to the polls in the first week of the early voting phase for Georgia’s March 12 “Super Tuesday” presidential preference primary – even with a $24.5-million local bond referendum on the ballot as a spur.
As of mid-afternoon Monday, technically the first day of the second week in the three-week early-voting period, only 333 Putnam voters had cast ballots at the Board of Elections office on U.S. 441 North. Yet to come are the remaining two weeks of early voting, absentee ballots, and the March 12 in-person voting in the five precincts.
The first week of early voting represented slightly less than two percent of Putnam’s 17,693 registered voters.
Voter registration appears to be no problem in Putnam County. Over the past two years, Putnam has added an eye-popping 1,686 new voters to its rolls since the 16,007 for the 2022 party primaries, according to online data on the secretary of state’s website. That amounts to an increase of 10-plus percent.
Various deadlines, according to Putnam Elections Supervisor Kimberly Rudolph, include Absentee ballots: applications are to be received by 5 p.m., Friday, March 1, and ballots are to be returned to the Board of Elections office by mail or in-person by 7 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, March 12. Overseas or military voters have an extra three days but must be received by 5 p.m., Friday, March 15; Early voting: Monday-Friday, until 5 p.m. Friday, March 8, at the Board of Elections office. In-person voting at the five precincts on the March 12 election day, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If a voter is in line at 7 p.m. they will be allowed to vote.
Aside from the bond referendum on both parties’ ballots, the only race on the ballot is each party’s presidential candidates. Although most of the candidates listed have already dropped out of the presidential primary races, the Republican ballot will have 11 names on it, led by active campaigners Donald Trump and Nikki Haley. The Democratic ballot has three names, led by incumbent President Joe Biden.
All other races for local, state, and federal positions will come in the May party primaries.