Early voters in Liberty County turned out before dawn to snag a place in line at the Historic Courthouse in Hinesville Tuesday, where the line of 108 people wrapped around the courthouse by the time polls opened at 9 a.m.. Voters also were waiting in line before the polls opened at the Community Center in Midway.
They were part of a statewide record early voter turnout, with voters surpassing the 2020 record of 136,000 by 1 p.m. Monday. More than 300,000 ballots were cast Monday, according to Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer of the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
Willie and Peggy Jones were first in line at the courthouse at 6:30 a.m. “I didn’t want to stand in a long line,” Peggy Jones said.
Ismael Roman of Midway was right behind them: “You know people are gonna show up at the last minute. When they do, the line’s gonna be around the corner. You have to bring lunch.”
Voters wait outside the Liberty County Historic Courthouse in Hinesville, GA to cast ballots on the first day of early voting, Oct. 15, 2024. Credit: Robin Kemp/The Current GA 
Voters wait outside the Liberty County Historic Courthouse in Hinesville, GA to cast ballots on the first day of early voting, Oct. 15, 2024. Credit: Robin Kemp/The Current GA 
Voters wait outside the Liberty County Historic Courthouse in Hinesville, GA to cast ballots on the first day of early voting, Oct. 15, 2024. Credit: Robin Kemp/The Current GA
Aurelia Lipscomb of Hinesville said she was motivated to come out early “because I’m smart,” she laughed. “I’m smart, so I knew there was gonna be a line.” She added, “You’ve got to participate, and I’d rather be the first few to get it done and just get in there and do it, and just watch everyone else worry about these long lines.”
Turnout numbers
Shortly after the polls closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, the unofficial total for Day One of early voting as published on the Liberty County Registration and Elections Office’s homepage was 1,792 advance/in person, 112 mail-in/drop box, and 1 ballot spoiled.
The record-setting turnout continued on Wednesday, with about 60 people waiting outside the courthouse before the polls opened at 9 a.m., and a steady stream of voters in and out of the Midway location, as well. On Wednesday, 1,393 voters cast advance/in-person ballots; 122 cast mail-in/dropbox ballots; and no ballots were rejected or spoiled.
The first 2 days of early voting in Liberty County saw 3,185 advance/in person ballots and 234 mail-in/dropbox ballots cast. One ballot was spoiled. None were rejected.
What’s on the ballot
Besides the U.S. Presidential race, voters are considering candidates in contested races for Liberty County sheriff, U.S. House of Representatives District 1, Board of Commissioners chair and Commission District 4.
Various uncontested races, such as Liberty County tax commissioner, State Senate District 1, State House District 168, Commission Districts 5 and 6, chief magistrate judge, coroner, State Court solicitor, Probate Court judge, clerk of Superior Court, and Coastal Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor, are also on the ballot.
Tax-related issues include:
- Amendment 1, which would allow a state-wide homestead exemption to limit the assessed value of homesteads. However, “any county, consolidated government, municipality, or local school system” could “opt out” of that limit, “upon the completion of certain procedures.” Specifically, the state could restrict that homestead exemption to jurisdictions that don’t already have a homestead exemption in place, and set requirements for new political subdivisions (like a new city) to opt into such a homestead exemption.
Amendment 2, which would create a separate tax court within the judicial system. This would allow the Georgia Court of Appeals to hear appeals on tax rulings. Right now, those appeals go to Fulton County Superior Court. - Referendum A, which would raise the ad valorem tax exemption for tangible personal property from $7,500 to $20,000. However, that exemption would not apply to motor vehicles, trailers, and mobile homes.
- Special Election, which proposes renewing the existing one-cent special purpose local option sales tax for transportation (TSPLOST 2). This TSPLOST would go into effect after the current TSPLOST expires in November 2025, which means no change in Liberty County’s existing sales tax. The tax, which people from outside the county also pay when they shop here, would run 6 years. County officials expect it to bring in $76 million, and that money can only be used for transportation purposes like bike paths, road repairs, and improving drainage. The county has produced a video explaining TSPLOST 2 in more detail.
Voting dates, locations
You can cast your ballot early in person from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at either the Historic Courthouse, 100 N. Main St. in Hinesville or the Liberty County Complex, 9397 E. Oglethorpe Hwy. in Midway on these dates:
- Wednesday, Oct. 16 through Saturday, Oct. 19
- Monday, Oct. 21 through Saturday, Oct. 26
- Monday, Oct. 28 through Friday, Nov. 1
The last day to vote will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. On that day, you must vote at your assigned polling place, which you can find by logging into mvp.sos.ga.gov or by calling the Registration and Elections Office at (912) 876-3310 or e-mailing elections@libertycountyga.gov .
Absentee/advance paper ballot
If you want to request an absentee ballot by mail, state elections officials said Monday that you should do so immediately in order to allow enough mailing time.
You also have the option of dropping off your completed and sealed paper absentee ballot in person at the main Registration and Elections Office at the Historic Courthouse, Suite 1600.
How many voters in Liberty County?
As of Sunday, Oct. 14, the Georgia Secretary of State’s Elections Office had counted 46,573 registered voters in Liberty County. Of those, 35,970 were “active,” while 10,603 were listed as “inactive.”
An “inactive” voter is someone who has not voted or had any other contact with their elections office in the past 5 years. If you are listed as an “inactive” voter, you still have the right to vote—and doing so will restore you to active status.
You can check your voter status by logging into mvp.sos.ga.gov with your first initial, last name, county, and date of birth. There, you also can find:
- Who your elected officials are
- A sample ballot tailored especially for the candidates and issues in your specific location
- Your voting history
- Your precinct card showing the different districts and seats, as well as Election Day polling locations, for your address
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