Early voting is underway. The early voting period began Monday, Oct. 12, and will continue through Oct. 23. Advanced voting will begin Oct. 26 and continue through Oct. 30.

“We have seen a trend toward advanced voting over the past couple of elections,” said Director of the Gordon County Board of Elections and Voter Registration, Shea Hicks.

Part of that trend, according to Hicks, is the convenience of early voting.

“They can come into the office and vote, if they are out running errands,” she said. “Also, they usually don’t have to stand in line. A lot of people say it is faster.”

Due to the up tick in early voting, Hicks said the county is looking into combining Election Day precinct.

“We are finding that we really don’t need as many,” she said.

With early voting on the rise, Hicks has also seen less of a demand in mail in absentee ballots.

As of last week the office had only received two requests. Staff members will begin mailing out absentee ballots on Oct. 13, but voters have until Friday Oct. 30 to request to vote by mail.

Mail-in ballot requests can be made by calling 706-629-7781. Those living in Fairmount should call 706-337-5307. The request can also be made by visiting www.gordoncounty.org.

Election Day is Nov. 3. Calhoun residents can vote at the Recreation Department on River Street. Fairmount residents will be voting at the Community Center on Fairmount highway, and Resaca voters will be casting their ballots at the Community and Recreation Center on Walker Street.