Carroll County has gained 1,360 new voters since the July primaries and the rate is expected to increase as next Tuesday’s voter registration deadline for the Nov. 6 election grows closer, officials said Wednesday.

The county currently has 58,514 registered voters, according to Janice K. Duff, voter registration coordinator.

“We’re seeing a steady stream of new registrations, but no more than in 2008,” said county Elections Supervisor Becky Deese. “The deadline is next Tuesday, but it’s better not to wait until the last minute.”

She said the voter registration deadline would normally have been Monday. However, since that day is Columbus Day, a holiday for many government workers, the deadline was moved to Tuesday.

Prospective voters can register at public libraries and city halls in each community, in addition to the voter registration office in the county office building on College Street in Carrollton.

“A voter registration form can be downloaded from the secretary of state’s office, but it has to be signed and mailed in,” Deese said.

Those who have questions about their voting status, their voting districts or polling places, can go online to www.sos.ga.gov. and click on My Voter Page (MVP).

Advance voting begins Oct. 15, and during the last week of advance voting (Oct. 29-Nov. 2), Carroll County voters will have a second polling place to vote early — Powell Park Arts Center, 424 Leslie Drive, Villa Rica.

Advance voting begins Monday, Oct. 15. During the first two weeks, voting will be held only at the Carroll County Elections Office in Carrollton, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each weekday. The Saturday advance voting day will be Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carrollton office only.

Voting during the final week of advance voting will be from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at both the Carrollton and Villa Rica locations.

Deese said her office has been receiving questions from people wanting to know why the presidential candidates are listed with the Republican candidate first.

“We did not arrange the ballot locally,” she said. “It is done by state law and the first political party listed is the party of the current governor. That mean Republicans are listed first.”

Deese said the state now uses the term “advance voting” for all early voting, instead of the previously used “early voting” designation.

During the 2008 general election, Georgia voters had 45 days of early voting. The General Assembly cut the number of required early voting days to 21, with the stipulation that one Saturday early voting day be made available.

“In 2008, almost 40 percent of Carroll County registered voters cast early ballots,” Deese said. “Another 35 percent voted at their precincts on election day.”`