Early voting day 2: Massive turnout, long lines at polling places after record day in Georgia
ByWSBTV.com News Staff
ByWSBTV.com News Staff
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — As day No. 2 of early voting neared an end Tuesday, it was another day full of long lines and wait times for voters.
At least 111,942 voters cast ballots in person Tuesday, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. That brings the two-day total for advance voting in Georgia to 241,706.
The Secretary of State’s office says more than 128,000 people cast votes early on Monday.So far, more than 600,000 ballots have already been cast in Georgia for the general election after the first day of early voting, and in addition to the 473,000 absentee ballots returned.
New numbers from @GaSecofState: so far, more than 600,000 ballots have already been cast in Georgia for the general election. 126,854 people voted on day 1 of early voting. 473,341 absentee ballots have already been returned
In south Fulton County, Channel 2′s Sophia Choi went to the Wolf Creek Library, where some people waited three to four hours to vote.
Despite the lines, Fulton County leaders consider the election a success so far.
“We decided to get umbrella, chairs, water and stuff like that, and made sure we had face protection and everything to be safe,” voter Jasmine Norman said.
Election officials say they expect even more — the most ever — on Oct. 30, the last day of early voting.
“We’re expecting to exceed 30,000 voters that day,” Fulton County election director Richard Barron said.
Fulton County said what’s causing the most delays are people who want to cancel their absentee ballots and vote in person.
“That is contributing to extending the lines,” Barron said.
In Gwinnett County, wait times Tuesday varied greatly. County officials told Channel 2′s Tony Thomas that times ranged from 45 minutes at one polling location to more than eight hours at Gwinnett’s election headquarters.
The Gwinnett elections director told Thomas there’s not much else they can do. County elections director Kristi Royston says her team is looking at potential adjustments but can only fit so many machines in at certain locations.
Voter turnout for Day 1 was six times higher than in 2016. Gwinnett has opened multiple voting sites this year, including the county fairgrounds.
“I think it’s going to be like this every day and I want to make sure I vote,” voter Celia McCarty told Thomas.
In Cobb County, lines largely were listed at under two hours on Tuesday. The main elections office had a 200-minute wait time, but Riverside EpiCenter and the North Cobb senior center had wait times of only 90 minutes.
The first day of early voting broke the 2016 record of 90,000 for a single day.
So many people voted that Douglas County has already announced plans to open a new early voting site.
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Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Rockdale County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Donovan Butler)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Dekalb County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Nikki Walls)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020.
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Joanna Moore)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Joanna Moore)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) At the Georgia Convention Center, Leslie Jackson, who took this photo, said only 4 machines were working and that the others were down. (Leslie Jackson)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Newton County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Emmitt Pruitt)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Clayton County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Sabreen Shabazz)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Lisa)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020.
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote at the Gwinnett Voter Registrations & Elections Office on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Constance)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Clayton County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Sabreen Shabazz)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Cedric Williams)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote at the Merle Manders Center in Henry County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Lillie)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Shemeika Banks)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote at the Gwinnett Voter Registrations & Elections Office on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Constance)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (DeMarco Pittman)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Cartersville on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Angela)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Forsyth County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Caroline)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Peachtree City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Gloria)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Tucker on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Heather)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in South Clayton County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (S. Brooke)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Keisha Sanders)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote at the North Cobb Senior Center in Acworth on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Lauren Bartlett)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote at the Douglas County Courthouse on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Angela Knighy)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Acworth on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Lauren Bartlett)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Gabi Left)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Cobb County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Renee)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Frantz dautruche)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote at the Gwinnett County Elections Office on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Melissa McGuire)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines in Henry County on Monday morning.
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) This is the line to vote in Henry County on Monday, Oct. 12. The line expanded down a residential street. (Dr. Yolanda Rhetta)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Henry County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Dr. Yolanda Rhetta)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Rockdale County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (June & Kenneth Huff)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Rockdale County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (June & Kenneth Huff)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Frantz dautruche)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines at State Farm Arena to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Mkth)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines at State Farm Arena to vote on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Mkth)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Here is the line to vote in Griffin at 8:30 a.m. Monday morning. (Renee Parks)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Fayetteville on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Paulette’s)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Tucker on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Keva)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Cobb County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Frantz dautruche)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Paulding County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Hoo Man)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Cobb County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Bill Pritchard)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Clayton County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (DeMarco Pittman)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Pooler on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Mary K. Bir)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in Barrow County on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Kristine Kemp Johnson)
Long lines at voting precincts around Atlanta (Oct. 12, 2020) Long lines to vote in State Farm Arena on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Lee Jones)