Deadlines to cast ballots for the Jan. 5 runoff for the two U.S. Senate races in Georgia are approaching.
A statewide public service commissioner race is on the ballot as well.
Gilmer County Chief Registrar Tammy Watkins said turnout has been high for the runoff.
“It’s been great,” she said. “It’s been crazy with absentees.”
As of Tuesday morning, Dec. 29, 4,944 people have voted in-person and 2,551 mail-in ballots out of 3,464 have been returned.
“Those are unbelievable for a runoff,” she said.
Watkins said the elections office is facing a challenge with COVID-19 as well. She is currently in quarantine and running the office from home.
Other people in the office have been affected as well, and they are working to keep healthy people manning the office.
“I appreciate all the hard work they are doing,” she said.
Absentee counting starts tonight, and Watkins said Election Supervisor Scott Chastain will be there to oversee the process.
Early voting will continue at the office in the courthouse through Thursday, Dec. 31, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For anyone who is quarantined because of COVID-19, Watkins said a mail-in ballot can still be requested by visiting the website ballotrequest.sos.ga.gov and filling in the requested information.
The last day the Gilmer office can mail out ballots is Thursday, Dec. 31.
Watkins said the ballot requester can then fill in their vote and drop the ballot off at the ballot drop box at the courthouse and still comply with quarantine restrictions.
Election day will be Tuesday, Jan. 5.