Cobb County voters cast 16,392 ballots on Tuesday, Oct. 13, the first day of early voting for the Nov. 3 general election, according to Elections Director Leigh Phillips.

Phillips told the Cobb County Courier that average waits at the county’s 13 advance voting locations were five minutes or less during the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. voting window. The longest wait reached approximately 30 minutes during peak periods.

Processing voters took an average of 1 minute and 16 seconds, she said.

Where to vote in East Cobb

East Cobb residents can cast early ballots at the East Cobb Government Service Center, 4400 Lower Roswell Road. The location also has an absentee ballot drop box.

Its schedule through Oct. 30 is:

  • Weekdays: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Saturdays, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Sundays, Oct. 18 and Oct. 25: Noon to 5 p.m.

Cobb voters may use any advance voting location in the county. All 13 sites offer Saturday voting, while Sunday voting is limited to five locations, according to the county’s official schedule.

Georgia sets opening-day midterm record

Cobb’s turnout came as Georgia set a first-day early voting record for a midterm election.

Statewide, 188,667 voters cast in-person ballots Oct. 13, more than 53,000 above the opening-day total in 2022, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

By the outlet’s Oct. 15 morning report, statewide participation had reached nearly 365,000 in-person voters, with more than 16,000 absentee ballots accepted.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said he expected turnout to challenge or surpass the 2022 midterm record, when nearly 4 million Georgians voted.

“Voters right now, they are just energized,” Raffensperger told Fox 5.

Poll workers are also following an additional check-in procedure this election. After checking voters in electronically, workers handwrite each voter’s name on a numbered list to create another paper record. The procedure does not require an additional step from voters, Fox 5 reported.

Deadlines and Election Day

The ballot includes races for governor and U.S. Senate, along with state legislative, Cobb County Commission and school board contests.

Early voting ends Friday, Oct. 30. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Friday, Oct. 23.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must use their assigned precinct and bring an accepted photo ID.

Residents can check registration, review a sample ballot and find their Election Day polling place through Georgia’s My Voter Page. Cobb’s advance voting page lists locations and links to a wait-time map.