Early voting numbers increased by more than 1,200 people as of the close of business on Tuesday, and many more are expected despite rainy weather today per the Polk County Board of Election’s latest tallies.

The Board reported that another 617 people cast their ballot in the run-off on Tuesday for the January 5 Senate and Public Service Commissioner races, bringing the two-day total so far to 1,283 voters so far. That doesn’t include the 1,176 absentee paper ballots already returned back to the offices ahead of the run-off to determine who sits in the U.S. Senate in both seats for Georgia when Congress’s new term begins, and the Public Service Commissioner race as well.

Voters can continue to visit the Board of Elections office this week in Cedartown at 144 West Ave. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, then next week from Monday through Wednesday in Cedartown ahead of the Christmas break, when the offices will be closed for two days.

Following that during the final week of early voting, the Board of Elections office in Cedartown and the Nathan Dean Community Center at 605 Goodyear Ave., Rockmart will be open from Monday through Thursday to wrap up the three week period. No votes will be cast on New Years Day with county offices closed for the first holiday of the 2021 calendar year.

Voters are being asked to come back and cast ballots to determine whether Republican Senator David Perdue will retain his seat against Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff, and if appointed Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler can continue her service through the rest of the term against a challenge being made by Rev. Raphael Warnock.

The Public Service Commission race features Republican Lauren Bubba McDonald Jr., the incumbent, and Democratic challenger Daniel Blackman.

Absentee ballots can also still be requested from the Board of Elections office. Call 770-749-2103 for more information, or visit the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page to request one online.