Augusta, GA
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.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Worship Center held its seventh annual back-to-school giveaway Saturday, distributing backpacks filled with supplies to students ahead of the new school year.
Students who attended were also entered into a raffle for a chance to win a free laptop.
Jaidi Stephens, a missionary with the center, said the organization wants to be ready when families need help.
“We just want to do our best for those times — you never know when that time is going to hit — so we just want to be here for them for when that happens,” Stephens said.
Ashley Stephens, a minister and missionary with the center, also took part in the event.
The center said its goal is to address a growing need in the community. In addition to the annual backpack giveaway, the Augusta Worship Center operates a food pantry every Tuesday year-round.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Good Trouble Day, the anniversary of civil rights leader John Lewis’ death, organizers gathered in Augusta for a community conversation about voting rights, election access and civic participation.
Among the topics discussed was educating people about their voting rights, including those impacted by the justice system.
Gayla Keesee, co-president of the League of Women Voters of the CSRA, said the issue came into focus for her during a recent conversation ahead of a primary election.
“We were talking just before the primary and trying to tell people, it’s early voting, get out and vote,” Keesee said. “And a young man said, ‘I can’t vote.’ And I said, ‘why not?’ He said, ‘I’ve got a felony.’ And I said, ‘are you off paper?’ And he went, ‘yes.’ And I said, ‘how long?’ ‘Eight years?’ I said, ‘we’ll register you today. You are eligible.’ He cried, because he never thought that he would be able to vote again.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A traffic stop attempt by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office ended in a rollover crash Friday afternoon after the driver refused to stop, authorities said.
Deputies attempted to stop the red 2017 Honda Civic around 2:22 p.m. on Peach Orchard Road near Mike Padgett Highway, according to the sheriff’s office. The driver continued south on Mike Padgett Highway before traveling east on Marvin Griffin Road, deputies said.
The pursuit ended near Marvin Griffin Road and Doug Barnard Parkway when the driver lost control, went into a ditch and crashed through a fence at the Augusta Water Works Wastewater Treatment Facility, according to authorities. The car overturned.
The driver had visible injuries that were described as non-life-threatening and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities said warrants will be served after the driver is released from the hospital. Charges are expected to include multiple traffic violations, including felony fleeing or attempting to elude and DUI.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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