Early voting for the Nov. 5 general election is now underway in all 159 Georgia counties. The initial day saw nearly 330,000 ballots cast, shattering the previous record set in 2020 of 136,000.
Poll workers have a critical task of observing and protecting the democratic process by preserving order at the precinct. Reactions have been expressed toward these opening day record-breaking numbers.
“This is the third presidential election cycle I’ve volunteered as a poll worker, and so far this is the most enthusiasm I’ve seen to vote early. Perhaps we’re set for a quiet election day if more than half the state votes from now until the Friday before the election.” – Arthur Campbell, poll worker
Those who are casting their vote for the first time in a presidential election have been newly introduced to the operation of early voting, which takes on methods of participating in person or by a requested absentee ballot. Chris Hall, a voter from Georgia who had never cast a ballot until this cycle, was committed to fulfilling his civic duty in 2024.
“I was pleased to take part in early voting as a recently registered voter. I had been on the sidelines for a few presidential elections now, not really understanding the importance of voting. Now I can proudly say that I made my voice heard.” – Chris Hall, first time Georgia voter
Georgia, a state that saw an increase in mail-in voting in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been prepared for the influx in voter turnout. The average wait time at polling locations is set at 20-30 minutes according to advanced voting maps provided by the state. Poll workers are instructed to work diligently in order to prevent lengthy lines that can cause further delay.
This is the first presidential race since the Election Integrity Act of 2021 was passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Kemp. Opponents have criticized the alterations made to the signature matching requirements that now mandate photo identification.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger explained that “more than 99% of voters in Georgia use photo ID to verify their identities.” The total number of requested absentee ballots is expected to rise to around 300,000 before the end of October, with numbers for in-person turnout rising exponentially each day.
The final day to vote early at Georgia locations is Nov. 1. You can find your early voting precinct and schedule at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/advanced-voting-location-information.
