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Georgia sets record early voting turnout on day 1, surging past previous highs

By and
Updated  October 15, 2024 11:51pm EDT
2024 Election
FOX 5 Atlanta

Georgia more than doubles early voter turnout

With more than 300,000 early voters turning out to cast their ballots in the 2024 election, Georgia has more than doubled the turnout they had in 2020 and 2022.

The Brief

    • Georgia saw a record-breaking number of early voters with over 305,000 ballots cast by 10:30 p.m. on the first day of early voting.
    • Early voting in Georgia started with long lines at several polling locations, suggesting high voter enthusiasm.
    • State officials have taken precautions to ensure that voters can trust the results, including testing machines and conducting audits.
    • The importance of Georgia in the election is highlighted by visits from high-profile figures, with former President Trump and Vice President Harris rallying support.
    • Key dates for Georgia voters include the last day to request an absentee ballot on Oct. 25 and the final day of early voting on Nov. 1, with Nov. 5 being Election Day.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Georgia voters set a new early voting record Tuesday as officials reported record-breaking turnout across the state.  

As of 3:30 p.m., more than 234,000 voters had cast their ballots, surpassing daily records set in 2022. The early voting period, which began today, will continue for the next two weeks. 

Just four hours later, Gabe Sterling, COO of the Secretary of State’s office, updated that number.

Georgia breaks early voting record

On the very first day of early voting 2024 in Georgia, voters broke the turnout record. Some people stood in line for over an hour to cast their ballot.

"Over 300,000 votes cast today! That’s 123% higher than the old record for the 1st day. Great job counties & voters." 

By 10:30 p.m., state election officials tallied more than 305,000 votes cast with some counties still uploading their final numbers.

"Georgia voters are energized! Our county election directors are outstanding," said Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. He also emphasized that by 10:29 a.m., 71,054 voters had already cast their ballots.  

Huge turnout so far for first day of early voting

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger just held a press conference where they said things were going smoothly throughout the state. Raffensperger said that by 10:30 a.m., more than 71,000 people had voted in Georgia, which is nearly half the total for the entire first day of early voting in 2022.

Long lines were observed at several polling locations, including three sites in Cherokee County, with voters at the Buckhead Library in Atlanta waiting patiently to cast their ballots. Doug Maclean, a voter, remarked, "I expected to see people out here. I'm not sure I expected a line this long." Despite this, many were eager to vote early.  

"I wanted to get it out of the way. Didn't want to have to wait for election day," said Lauren Ware, another early voter.  

FULL: Early voting first day press conference AM

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Gabe Sterling provide an update on the first day of early voting at a 10:30 a.m. press conference on Oct. 15.

Election officials have worked to ensure that Hurricane Helene does not disrupt voting. Raffensperger credited state and local teams, stating, "We put our heads down, we did our job, and that’s what people expect of us." Raffensperger also emphasized the integrity of Georgia’s election system, noting that all measures taken in recent years ensure that voters can trust the results. 

Election 2024: What you need to know for early voting

Sterling echoed this sentiment. "We test the machines beforehand, we test during, and we have audits afterwards... We feel like we have done everything we can to be transparent," Sterling said.  

Both presidential campaigns are urging supporters to head to the polls, with Georgia emerging as a key battleground state. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Cobb County, while Vice President Kamala Harris will host a rally in Atlanta on Saturday. 

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Steady flow of voters in DeKalb County

There's been a steady flow of voters all morning in DeKalb County. Today is the first day of early voting in Georgia.

The Election Data Hub reports that, as of today, 265,086 absentee ballots have been requested, with 12,861 already accepted. High turnout is expected throughout the early voting period, which could result in long lines at polling locations. 

"I feel like this is the most important election of our lifetimes," said Leslie Jackson, one voter at a polling station. 

Voters line up early for first day of early voting

FOX 5 Atlanta found several people who lined up early for early voting in DeKalb County, including a woman who came to her voting location at 3 a.m.

Here are some key dates for Georgia voters:

  • Oct. 25: Last day to request an absentee ballot
  • Mandatory Saturday voting: Oct. 19 and Oct. 26
  • Nov. 1: Final day of early voting
  • Nov. 5: Election Day

With both campaigns closely monitoring early voting, election officials expect the race to remain competitive as Georgians continue to cast their ballots ahead of the official Election Day on Nov. 5. 

The Source

  • Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, COO Gabe Sterling of the Secretary of State’s office, individual voter experiences, as well as data provided by the Election Data Hub regarding absentee ballots contributed to this article.