Early voting problems in Fulton County

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Some voters in Fulton County who hoped to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting Monday left disappointed.  

Voters reached out to FOX 5 to complain about long lines at precincts all over the county. 

Jerry Hudspeth and his wife went to vote at the Robert E. Fulton Regional Library in Johns Creek.  The couple said  they stood in line for about 20 minutes with dozens of other voters and noticed the line wasn’t moving. An elections worker then came out to tell voters their computers were down, and they didn’t know when they would be back up.  The couple decided to come back to vote another time.  

"The frustrating part is we've had months to get the system right and we just don't understand why you can't make it work," said Hudspeth.  

Early Monday afternoon, Fulton County Elections officials confirmed issues at libraries.

“At this time, Fulton County’s early voting polling locations at libraries are experiencing network technical issues," the Fulton County Department of Registration and Elections said in a statement to FOX 5 Atlanta. "Unfortunately, they are unable to quickly verify voter’s registrations. The county’s Information Technology Department and internet provider are working diligently to resolve the issue.”

Poll workers were able to confirm registrations manually by using a printed paper list, but that slowed the process down considerably.

"They should have known that this is a historic election," said Jesse Williams, who went to vote at the C. T. Martin Recreation Center on Monday. 

He and others fear the repercussions of the problem will be greatest to those who are elderly or disabled.

"Most of these people are seniors.  They can't stand in line for long.  A lot of them come in, see a long line and they leave," explained Anita Busbee.  

The issue comes on the first day of early voting in Georgia, highlighted by a highly competitive race for governor between Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp.

The intensity in the governor’s race has picked up in recent days, with Abrams claiming that Kemp in his role as Secretary of State has put 53,000 voter registrations on hold, with most of them minority voters.

Kemp denies the charges, saying any disputed registered voter with a photo I.D. will be allowed to cast a ballot.

Kemp alleges Abrams has said illegal immigrants are part of the “Blue Wave” that could get her elected on Nov. 6.