Polk County had a big first day to open up the three weeks of early voting, surpassing more than 1,600 votes cast in total between in-person and absentee ballots returned.

Here’s a look at the figures as voters in Rockmart and Cedartown began heading to the polls on Tuesday:

These figures include updated absentee ballot figures that have been returned to the Board of Elections office in Cedartown as of Tuesday’s close of business.

Day 1 of Early Voting set a record statewide, as reports from state election officials note that there were double the number of voters on hand for the opening of precincts to cast a ballot than the previous record. At least 328,000 ballots were cast Tuesday according to elections officials, double the 136,000 record set to open early voting in 2020.

Early voting continued this morning in Polk, the surrounding area and statewide for Day 2 of balloting for the 2024 General Election – which includes the Presidential contest between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Most of the ballot for this go round is already set with incumbents or challengers having won in primaries, but the other contested race in 2024 for Northwest Georgia is for the 14th Congressional Seat.

Polk County resident former Gen. Shawn Harris is running as a Democrat and challenging incumbent Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene for the seat.

Most of the contests came to the General Election ballot without a race, or was decided in the primaries (with a runoff in two County Commission races in late spring and through the early summer.)

If you plan to head to the polls today, you’ll want to keep this information in mind:

Where to go to vote

Polk County will have two precincts open for the 2024 early voting cycle. They are located in Cedartown at the Goodyear Civic Center at 108 Prior Street, and in Rockmart at 605 Goodyear Ave. at the Nathan Dean (also Rockmart) Community Center.

CEDARTOWN PRECINCT

Location: Goodyear Civic Center

Address: 108 Prior St., Cedartown

Dates: Weekdays – Oct. 15 to Nov. 1, 2024; Saturday votes: Oct. 19 & Oct. 26, 2024

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ROCKMART PRECINCT

Location: Nathan Dean Community Center (aka Rockmart Community Center)

Address: 605 Goodyear Ave., Rockmart

Dates: Weekdays – Oct. 15 to Nov. 1, 2024; Saturday votes: Oct. 19 & Oct. 26, 2024

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

When to vote

Early voting begins on Tuesday, October 15 following the Columbus Day bank holiday today which saw polls closed across the state, and will be available for three weeks until Friday, November 1. Polls are open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday voting is open at both locations from October 19 and October 26, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Absentee ballots should already be going out to voters and can be turned to the Board of Elections office. They must be turned in by Tuesday, November 5 at 7 p.m. to be counted toward the overall vote tallies. (As a matter of caution and due to the processing times at the Palmetto sorting center, it would be advisable to send those back in as soon as possible or turn them into the Board of Elections office at 144 West Ave., Cedartown, in person.)

Registration for voting closed last Monday, October 7.

What do you need

Voters who have registered prior to the deadline and received information back from the state have to bring a state-issued Photo ID (or passport) to cast their ballot at the Cedartown or Rockmart precinct early, or on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at one of the seven precincts assigned individually to voters.

Voters will need to e-sign for the ballot once their ID is scanned and verified. Voters get a card to carry into the booth and make decisions on the touch screen before the ballot is printed and scanned.

Reminder: You are not allowed to wear or carry campaign-related material into polling places. (That means no Harris buttons, no MAGA hats, t-shirts or any other apparel that attempts to sway voters at the polls, and any campaign signs have to be 150 feet from polling places’ front door.)

Worried about your registration status? Visit the My Voter Page provided by the Secretary of State’s office.