Early voters in Georgia have reported waiting in long lines and dealing with glitches when they showed up to cast their ballots. Some waits exceeded 8 hours, reported the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC).
High turnout, combined with the aforementioned issues and problems with election equipment, led to a less than ideal start of the three week early voting period.
Lines wrapped around polling places like libraries, recreation centers, parking lots and more.
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However motivated voters were not deterred. Some said they expected a lengthy wait and would remain in line despite frustrations.
“It’s the first day, so people are trying to get a jump on things,” Michael Benefield told the AJC. “Just based on the climate of the country, folks are trying to get out early and make their intentions known.”
“It was a little frustrating [but] I would have waited all day if I had to,” Adrienne Crowley, who waited for an hour and a half, told AJC.
“I have voted before, always in person and I’ve never waited this long which I’m hoping is actually a good sign for this year’s election turnout,” Kathleen Campbell, 31, told NBC News. “I’m feeling really optimistic at how seriously people are going to take this election. … “Everyone is patiently waiting to get to the polls inside and I don’t think I’ve seen one person without a mask on.”
Richard Barron is Fulton County’s Election Director. He said the lines were anticipated. “We expected to have lines on the first day,” Barron said. “A lot of people have been anxious to vote for a long time.”
Some residents decided to come back and vote another day but expressed satisfaction with the high voter turnout.
“It’s a positive and a negative,” Danielle Driscoll told AJC. “It’s a positive because people are voting, but it’s a negative because I don’t want to wait in line … Maybe voting on the first day wasn’t the best idea.”
AJC reporter Tyler Estep posted footage to Twitter that showed lines wrapped around polling places in Suwanee.
Georgia’s Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs said the lines were driven by high turnout.
“We’re seeing extreme and tremendous turnout on the ground and around the state,” Fuchs said. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm around this election, and you’re going to see high turnout. Because of that, we’re going to see lines.”
Twitter user @EdnaK_ responded to Estep’s tweet, saying she was in line for nearly a full workday.
“I’m in Cobb County and have been in line for four hours. I got to my polling location at 730am and the line was already around the building and into the parking lot. This is ridiculous,” @EdnaK_ wrote. “7.5 hours later, my vote has been cast!”
The high turnout is also driven by many voters’ desire to cast their ballot in person in a very high stakes election.
“I think it’s the safest way to vote. Safe and then you know your vote is in,” Janice Elliott-Howard, 54, told AJC. “I don’t trust putting it in a box or leaving it up to the mail.”
Georgia has a new voting system that combines touchscreens and paper ballots. Residents can vote early until Oct. 30.
