Atlanta

Influx of transplants to Georgia could cause ‘spike’ in voter turnout in upcoming election

By Candace McCowan
By Candace McCowan

GEORGIA — There wasn’t a spare parking space at this Southwest Atlanta Department of Driver Services office Tuesday.

“I had to work this morning. I’m actually skipping my class right now,” voter Sara Clifton said.

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The license plates tell a story. Many, from out of state, are recent transplants.

“I think the person next to me was also doing a change from out of state to Georgia,” transplant Joseph Quintia said.

And here to make sure they have their Georgia IDs and they’re registered to vote.

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“I was living in Travis County in Austin, so we know it’s going to go blue. I want my vote to be a little bigger,” Quintia said.

There are many new Georgia residents post-pandemic. The Atlanta Regional Commission is reporting that the Metro added nearly 65,000 new residents just this past year.

The US Census is saying only four states have grown more than Georgia since 2020.

We called Georgia’s Secretary of State’s Office.

It will be Wednesday when they have a clear picture of how many of those new residents registered themselves to vote.

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We asked Kennesaw State professor, Dr. Kerwin Swint, what impact, if any, transplants – many from the northeast – could have on this election.

“We expect participation to be up. We saw this past May a real spike in voter turnout, especially early voting turnout, and there’s been an influx since then of new citizens, new voters,” Dr. Kerwin Swint said.

Voters are anxious to do their part.

“I want to make sure that I’m here, ready,” Quintia said.

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