Muscogee County adds two early voting sites for final week

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - The Muscogee County Board of Elections added two early voting sites for the final week of early voting.

More than 1,200 people have cast votes at the former Georgia Military College on Blackmon Road, while 200 have voted at Valley Healthcare System. Officials said they believe turnout will remain steady throughout the week.

Voters cite convenience of new locations

On the third and final week of early voting in Georgia, Muscogee County opened the two locations in an effort to increase voter turnout. Voters said having an early voting location in their neighborhood is convenient and quick.

Britenee Wheeler, a Columbus resident, said she was pleased to see a location near her instead of having to go to the Civic Center.

“I was very pleased to see there is a location near me as opposed to going down to the civic center. I can come conveniently close to her daycare and just get it done,” Wheeler said.

Sharlaceia Jones, a Columbus resident, said the location could help residents without transportation.

“It will encourage a lot of people on this side of town who may have not had transportation or access to getting on that side of town to come,” Jones said.

Scott Thomann, a Columbus resident, said the new site improved spacing between voting locations.

“I love it, it makes it convenient. The others were not spaced out like they should have been and this one puts pen further up on the north end so it’s fully convenient,” Thomann said.

Combined turnout nears 1,500 in first weekend

Ashanti Hilts, CEO of Valley Healthcare System, said the site has seen a steady stream of voters since opening.

“We’ve had a consistent flow of residents coming in to vote since Saturday. Saturday morning we opened our doors at seven a.m. and we already had people standing in line to vote,” Hilts said.

Natarsha Armour-Johnson, an early voting precinct manager, said turnout has remained steady since the site opened.

“Our first day was Saturday, October 24th, and we’ve had a steady flow each and everyday,” Armour-Johnson said.

In one weekend, the two locations combined for nearly 1,500 votes. Voters said they believe expanding to five early voting locations is the way to go moving forward.

Tracey Kuykendall, a Columbus resident, said more locations would help more people vote.

“I think more locations is better because everybody can vote. A lot of people can’t get to certain places so if it’s a location in every part, it’s easier to get there,” Kuykendall said.

Hilts said multiple early voting locations encourage civic engagement.

“That’s what makes Columbus great, that we do have multiple early voting locations. It encourages engagement, civic engagement allowing people to have not just one location but five, that says a lot,” Hilts said.

Armour-Johnson said she hopes the location will become a permanent early voting precinct.

“We are spreading out the votes, where people can come in with ease. Easy in and easy out. I hope the city will make this a new early voting precinct for our voters,” Armour-Johnson said.

The last day for early voting is Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters in line by 7 p.m. will have the opportunity to vote.