Home News 

Story

Clayton County Voters Stand In 12-Hour Lines

Posted: 6:11 am EDT October 28, 2008Updated: 3:52 pm EDT October 28, 2008

While the polls officially closed at 7 p.m. Monday night in Clayton County, the line to vote at the Frank Bailey Senior Center in Riverdale didn't clear up until 1 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Advance voting began in Georgia Monday -- and the first day proved to be a long one for many voters.

Clayton County voter Patricia Lewis finally voted in Riverdale after standing in line to vote for six hours. "I vote in every election and I couldn't pass this one up. I think about my dad, about the struggles he went through and for me to vote again is just amazing," Lewis.

VIDEO: Clayton County Voters Stand In 12-Hour Lines

When asked about the long line, Lewis said, "It's OK. I stand in lines to shop. Six hours to vote...it's nothing."

Lewis had lots of people to keep her company. For much of the day, Clayton County voters stood in line for eight to nine hours to cast their ballots.

  • COUNTY-BY-COUNTY: Advance, Early Voting Sites
  • FULL LIST: Advance, Early Voting Sites For Every County In Georgia

  • VOTER GUIDE: WSB-TV Voter Guide Can Help You Pick Candidates

  • Clayton County's election supervisor, Annie Bright, blamed the state. She said the computer mainframe the state uses to check voter registration became overwhelmed and didn't start working correctly until 4:30 p.m. Monday. The Secretary of State's Office said Clayton County should take the blame. The office said back-ups took place intermittently and didn't last long enough to cause eight hour delays.

    Channel 2 talked to one poll worker who worked an 18 hour shift. She still didn't complain about the problems. She said she was just glad to see so many people interested in voting. "It makes me feel good," said election worker Beatrice Lyons. "They can just come and stay all night and I'll be right here."

    Lyons said she saw some people arrive at 1 p.m. Monday and they didn't vote until 12:45 a.m. Tuesday.

    Advance voting continues in Georgia for the rest of the week.

    More Headlines

    2 Investigates

    A local police major says he's been removed from hiring and recruitment ... a result of sexual harassment allegations by two women. Channel 2 Action News investigative reporter Mark Winne has the latest. Watch Video ››


    Federal law forbids paying welfare benefits to immigrants -- even legal immigrants. But a government investigation found that states all over the country are ignoring an important part of that law. When Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Belcher asked Georgia's Department of Human Services what it was doing, the answer was: We don't know.

    A Channel 2 investigation is exposing critical 911 delays. Dozens of Channel 2 viewers called and e-mailed us and said they were put on hold during emergencies. Investigative reporter Jodie Fleischer spent months requesting and digging through records. While the city of Atlanta still hasn't provived all of what we asked for, Fleischer has uncovered what appears to be a 911 emergency.

    Channel 2 Investigates uncovers government waste , fraud and abuse. Full Story ››