Early in-person voting – one of three ways Georgia residents can cast a ballot this fall – began Monday in Bryan County and will continue each weekday for the next three weeks. Early voting runs from Oct. 12-30, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. One Saturday voting session will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.

During early voting, residents should not go to their regular polling places to cast ballots. Instead, south Bryan County residents can vote early at the Richmond Hill Recreation Department, 508 Timber Trail Road in Richmond Hill. North Bryan residents can vote in Bryan County Commissioners’ Meeting Room at 151 South College Street in Pembroke.

In-person advance voters will use the state’s new election machines. All voters must also show valid government-issued photo identification. In addition, all precincts in the state will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the traditional election day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Absentee voting began late last month and continues through election day, with an Oct. 30 deadline to request a ballot to be able to vote by mail.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is encouraging Georgians to vote absentee by mail to protect their health and limit wait times at the ballot box. The demands of social distancing and other COVID-19-related health precautions has lowered the capacity polling locations around the state have for in-person voting and has increased wait times for Georgians looking to cast their ballots in person. Additionally, many absentee ballots are still on the way to Georgia voters who requested them. When these Georgians opt to vote in person, their absentee ballot must be cancelled at the polling site, an extra step that further slows down the voting process.

For more information on the Nov. 3, 2020 election, Bryan County residents can visit https://www.bryancountyga.org/government/departments-a-g/elections. The landing page, which is created to inform voters about the upcoming election, contains important dates, polling locations, operation times and more. Bryan County Elections Supervisor Cindy Reynolds may be reached at cindyreynolds@bryan-county.org or 912-653-3859

The Bryan County branch of the NAACP will be one of the groups offering to drive voters to and from the polls on certain dates. These dates include:

* Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

* Monday, Oct. 26-Friday, Oct. 30, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* Election day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To get a ride to the polls, call or text (912) 737-6815 to arrange a pick-up. Call early to reserve your spot.