Polk County posts more than 1,200 ballots cast on Monday, Just over 500 absentee ballots went out

The Board of Elections posted big numbers for the first day of the week of early voting before the December 6 Runoff next Tuesday for the U.S. Senate seat statewide, and a Judge’s race locally.

The board posted after everything was tallied up on Monday that 1,290 people voted in person between the Board of Elections office and the Rockmart precinct to open the week of early voting allowed before the Runoff election.

Additionally, some 502 paper ballots went out to those unable to make it to the polls for the runoff, with 128 of those already back in possession of the Board of Elections officials for the December 6 vote.

The 1,290 ballots already cast might be a new record for a runoff vote, though Elections Director Noah Beck was unable at the moment to determine if that number was the largest opening-day turnout for early voting in a second round of fall voting. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported today the total number of early votes busted a record of more than 301,000 cast in Georgia on the first day possible for the entire state to go to the polls.

Beck did add that polls were busy again today so far as the second day of early voting continues.

The polls opened in some counties on Sunday – including Floyd County – as a special voting day ahead of the December 6 vote.

Those who want to take part in this round of voting after participating in the November 8 election will need to head to the polls by Friday to take part. Through Thursday, Cedartown’s Board of Elections early voting precinct is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 144 West Ave.

Rockmart’s Nathan Dean Community Center on Goodyear Avenue is also open through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Both precincts will be open Friday for special extended hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

All seven of the precincts in Polk County are open on Election Day.

Voters are being called back for two races on the Polk ballot to decide who goes forward as a candidate into contested seats.

Locally, Judge Shayne Green of the Probate Court is looking to extend her interim appointment to a full-time position. She is facing off against former District Attorney and sometimes-Judge Bobby Brooks, a local lawyer serving for decades in private practice and judicial appointments on the city and county level.

Green was appointed in July to fill the remainder of the year before the special election can determine who will fill the seat going forward until 2024.

On the statewide level, Sen. Raphael Warnock is seeking to defend his seat on the Democratic ticket against Republican Hershel Walker. The pair are the only U.S. Senate candidates still undecided in the midterms in November, going to a runoff after a Libertarian candidate took two percent of the vote and left neither Walker or Warnock with a majority.

Walker locally took Polk County back in November, but statewide Warnock held a slight lead over the GOP challenger.