Augusta, GA

Ga. absentee voters face mail delays, vanishing drop boxes

Published

1 year ago

October 21, 2024

Ga. absentee voters face mail delays, vanishing drop boxes

AUGUSTA, Ga. – More than 200,000 Georgians have requested an absentee ballot and already, 60,000 of them have been returned.

But the ballot drop boxes that appeared during the pandemic are now less accessible than they were then.

Senate Bill 202, passed after the 2020 election, in part vastly reduced the number of drop boxes across the state, allowing only one box for every 100,000 voters in a county.

The drop boxes were also moved to the inside of voting precincts.

“It needs to be more accessible,” said Georgia voter Rebecca Flynn, who lost her local ballot drop box this year. “To have it completely gone was very frustrating.”

Flynn had to drive 30 minutes one way to the next closest box. Poll workers there told her that she should always mail the ballot in, but left her with a warning.

“I asked if they’d recommend that and they said, it’s up to you but I wouldn’t do it,” said Flynn.

For months, lawmakers and postal officials have been warning that the issues plaguing the United States Postal Service could impact the timely return of absentee ballots, and that appears to be coming to fruition less than 20 days out from the election itself.

“With something so important as my vote, I don’t want anything to happen to it so I didn’t want to take any chances,” said Flynn.

Absentee ballots have to be returned to county elections offices via a drop box or by mail by 7 p.m. when the polls close on Nov. 5.

Despite the problems with absentee voting, advance in-person voters are setting records across Georgia. Early voting opened with a record in Georgia as well as Augusta, and the records continued through the weekend.

Augusta advance voting locations and schedule:

Linda W. Beazley Community Room in the Municipal Building, 535 Telfair Street. Oct. 15- Oct 19, Oct. 21 – Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Henry Brigham Community Center, 2463 Golden Camp Road. Oct. 15-Oct 19, Oct. 21-Oct. 26, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Warren Road Community Center, 300 Warren Road. Oct. 15-Oct 19, Oct. 21-Oct. 26, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Robert Howard Community Center at Diamond Lakes. 103 Diamond Lakes Way. Oct. 15-Oct 19, Oct. 21-Oct. 26, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Absentee Drop Box, Municipal Building, 535 Telfair Street. Oct. 15- Oct 19, Oct. 21 – Nov. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Voters need to show any one of these photo IDs at the polls:

Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
Georgia driver’s license, even if expired.
Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of the state.
Valid U.S. passport ID.
Valid U.S. military photo ID containing a photograph of the voter.
Student photo ID card issued by a Georgia public college, university, or technical school.
Valid tribal photo ID containing your photograph.

Voters unable to provide photo identification can vote through a provisional ballot. They will need to provide a copy of their ID within three days after the election to their county board of elections and registration.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Junior Players present ‘North Star’ for Black History Month

Published

11 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Junior Players present ‘North Star’ for Black History Month

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Junior Players are presenting “North Star,” a story about a young Black girl growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, in honor of Black History Month.

The performance focuses on resilience, family and stories that shape identity. The production uses a stripped-down approach on a small stage to emphasize the message the young actors deliver to audiences.

“I started to learn about my character and about the play and it was very impactful for me on a personal level,” said Nate Miligns, who plays Willie in “North Star.”

“North Star” retells the story of Relia, a young Black girl growing up during a time when finding your voice was rare and life was unfair to her family and other Black families during the Civil Rights Movement.

“He’s really passionate in his beliefs for freedom and free will. I think it’s kind of interesting that his mind is the fact that he thinks he isn’t heard,” Miligns said about his character Willie.

Co-director Sean Moton said working on the play demonstrates variety as the spice of life.

“I work with kids all day, so it’s nice to come and work with adults and kids who have a real passion for it, so it’s a joy,” Moton said.

Lewis said the play shows that every person has their own guiding star.

“The play itself is so impactful in itself. There’s such a great message that we’re trying to share about free will and our history, I’m so happy I got a chance to learn something from this character,” Sean said.

Lewis said he hopes audiences start seeing their light that can act as a guide, a light that heals, and a light that can change the world.

“North Star” will be performed Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Kroc Center. Tickets can be purchased here.

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Augusta, GA

Local woman sentenced for stealing $1M using checks swiped from mail

Published

23 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Press Room

Local woman sentenced for stealing M using checks swiped from mail

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A Columbia County woman was sentenced to federal prison for using stolen and counterfeit business checks to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Dechanta Benning, 35, was sentenced to 70 months in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term, according to prosecutors.

U.S. District Court Judge Randall Hall also ordered Benning to pay a $2,500 fine and $300 in special assessments.

Benning obtained business checks stolen from the U.S. Postal Service, altered them, deposited the altered checks into the bank accounts of co-conspirators as well as her own accounts, then withdrew the money, according to prosecutors.

The money was withdrawn before the banks were able to recognize the checks as fraudulent.

Benning stole approximately $1 million through this scheme, according to prosecutors.

There were hundreds of victims.

“Financial fraud schemes like this don’t just impact banks — they devastate small businesses, families, and entire communities,” said Matthew Ploskunak of the FBI’s Augusta office.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting and defending the nation’s mail system from theft and aggressively pursuing those who would commit fraud in this district,” U.S. Attorney Margaret Heap said.

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Augusta, GA

New judge, public defender take oaths in Augusta

Published

1 day ago

February 6, 2026

Press Room

New judge, public defender take oaths in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Kristi Goodwin Connell has been sworn in as the new Superior Court judge of the Augusta Judicial Court by Gov. Brian Kemp.

Connell was an assistant district attorney for Columbia Judicial Court and has been practicing law in the Augusta area for 25 years.

She worked as assistant district attorney and chief assistant district attorney at the Augusta Judicial Court.

Also in the courts

Katherine “Kate” Mason, a longtime public defender and former statewide leader with the Georgia Public Defender Council was honored at a retirement celebration Thursday.

The event also included the swearing-in of Lee Prescott as circuit public defender of the Augusta Judicial Circuit.

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