THOMASVILLE — With two days of early voting remaining, more than 8,200 early votes have been cast in Thomas County in the Jan. 5 runoffs.

Wednesday and Thursday are the last two days of early voting. Votes may be cast from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Thomas County elections office, 1402 E. Jackson St.

More than 3,000 absentee and mailed ballots have been cast.

The in-person voting process takes five to seven minutes, said Frank Scoggins, elections supervisor.

Early voting traffic usually picks up on the last day, Scoggins said.

“History proves the last day is pretty active,” he said.

More than 13,000 early votes were cast in Thomas County prior to the November presidential race. Scoggins does not anticipate that many votes prior to next week’s runoffs.

Georgia’s two U.S. Senate seats will be decided Jan. 5, along with a Georgia Public Service Commission seat.

The hotly-contested Senate race between two Republican incumbents and Democrat challengers has gained nationwide attention and interest. Results of the election will decide political party control of the U.S. Senate.

The Georgia Senate races have been referred to nationally as the Super Bowl of U.S. politics. 

Thomas County’s 17 polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day. Votes will be tallied at the elections office.

Scoggins said that if the November presidential race is an indication, the voter pace will be slow on election day as a result of so many voters casting ballots during the early voting period. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820