Campaign 2020, Top Stories

Record Turnout For First Day Of Early Voting In Georgia

By News & Guts

The first day of early voting in Georgia didn’t exactly go smoothly. Technical glitches, long lines, and even reports that cars were being towed cast a shadow over the day. But as one woman told the NBC affiliate in Atlanta (watch above):

“I think people are just really ready to vote, and it doesn’t matter how long it takes, we will stand in line to vote… We are voting like our life depends on it.” 

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

About 128,000 voters went to the polls Monday, higher turnout than on the first day of in-person early voting in any previous Georgia election, according to data from the secretary of state’s office.

The strong start to early voting could signal even more voters to come during three weeks of early voting. Turnout typically rises as Election Day grows closer, usually peaking on the final days.

The newspaper adds, “The number of in-person voters on Monday outpaced the start of the 2016 election, when turnout reached 91,000. On the busiest early voting day four years ago, about 253,000 people cast ballots the Friday before the election.”

NBC reports:

Aunna Dennis, executive director of the voter advocacy organization Common Cause Georgia, said what happened Monday was a “math problem.”

“A lot of people voted on the first day,” and “Covid-19 precautions means each voter takes longer,” Dennis said, adding that there were also reports of machine problems and a shortage of paper ballots that could be used as backups. “That needs to change,” she said.