A total of 7,036 people voted early in Dawson County for the Nov. 6 election, a large turnout that mirrors a high early voter turnout nationwide.

Friday, Nov. 2, the last day of early voting, saw the largest daily turnout with 739 ballots cast. Glenda Ferguson, director of the Dawson County Board of Elections and Registration, said wait times on Friday were minimal until about 3:30 p.m., though she estimated no one waited more than 30 minutes.

“Tomorrow I expect the same,” Ferguson said. “I do expect heavy voting. We still have these numbers of eligible voters, both active and inactive, that haven’t voted yet.”

Ferguson said there are a total of 11,929 registered voters who have yet to cast a ballot, but that the state uses active registered voters for reports.

Active voters are defined as registered voters who have made a change to their voting record, Ferguson said, by voting, change of address, change of name or other activity.

“It takes two years of no contact to place a voter on inactive list,” Ferguson said.

Dawson County has 18,278 active registered voters, making turnout prior to election day about 38 percent.

More than 30 million people nationwide have cast their ballots early for these midterms. In 2014, the last midterms, 28.3 million people voted early.

In Dawson County, the ballot features several local candidates as well as several state races, including the governor's race, as well as a contest for Georgia’s 9th District for the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Dawson County Board of Elections office was the only place open for early voting, but three polling locations will be open to voters from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 6.

View your polling place on the Secretary of State website at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov

or call the board of elections at (706) 344-3640.