The portion of Rockdale County voters that have already cast their ballots early is nearly 40 percent, but statewide, the early voting turnout is lower than four years ago.

As of the end of Monday, Oct. 29, about 39 percent, or 19,385 voters, have cast their ballots by mail or in person for the Nov. 6 general election, according to elections supervisor Cynthia Welch. Early voting ends Friday, Nov. 2.

 The precinct with the highest early voting turnout is St. Pius, with about 49.9 percent. Bethel precinct has the lowest early voting turnout so far of 32.76 percent.

The Rockdale elections board office projects an overall 2012 general election voter turnout of 72 percent.

In the last presidential election in 2008, Rockdale's overall voter turnout was 78.78 percent.

In 2008, about 55 percent of Rockdale's active registered voters came out for early voting and statewide about 53 percent of voters in Georgia cast their ballots early.

But this year, the top five counties that typically post high early voting turnout - Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Henry, Cobb -  have been about 72 percent lower on average than four years ago, according to an AJC article. 

However, the early voting period has been shorted this year from 45 days to 21 days, which makes comparisons more complicated.

Normal early voting hours are Monday, Oct. 29 - Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. There will be extended hours Wednesday, Oct. 31 - Friday, Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

On Election Day, Nov. 6, voters must go to their precinct polls, which will be open 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Rockdale's prenincts, with poll locations in parenthesis, are: Barksdale (Barksdale Elementary School), Bethel (Presbyterian Church of the Resurrection), Conyers (Conyers First United Methodist Church), Fieldstone (Life Church), Flat Shoals (Flat Shoals Elementary School), Honey Creek (Honey Creek Elementary School), Hightower (Hightower Trail Elementary School), The Lakes (Rockdale County Public Works Building), Lorraine (Union United Methodist Church), Magnet (Cross Pointe Christian Church), Milstead (Conyers Middle School), Olde Town (Pine Street Elementary School), Rockdale (Rockdale Baptist Church), Salem (Salem High School), Sheffield (J.H. House Elementary School), Smyrna (Heritage High School), St. Pius (St. Pius X Catholic Church), Stanton (Edwards Middle School).

To find out where your poll is, call the Board of Elections office at 770-278-7333. Or go to http://sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/locator.asp
 
All voters need to bring one of the six forms of acceptable photo ID listed below:

1. A Georgia Driver’s License; even if expired
2. A Valid Photo ID card issued by any State or U.S. government
3. A Valid United States passport;
4. A Valid Government Employee Photo Identification Card
5. A valid United States military identification card with Photo
6. A valid tribal identification card with Photo

Provisional Ballots are available for those voters who do not have one of the above Photo IDs.

For more information, contact the Rockdale Board of Elections/Voter Registration Office at 770-278-7333