Early voting ends today

Today is the final day for early and advance voting in Georgia. Reports of long lines have continued to come in from some parts of the state. Some voters at one Atlanta location waited until nearly 10:30 last night to cast their ballots. The Secretary of State’s office says computer problems were to blame--trouble with the machines connecting to the state’s voting system. State elections officials say this was an isolated case, and most polling locations across Georgia were running smoothly yesterday. An update of early voting numbers as of yesterday from the Secretary of State’s office: more than 1.5 million ballots have been cast early, from a pool of almost 5.6 million registered Georgians.

No changes to early voting schedule

As early--and now advance voting--continues throughout the state, Georgians have experienced long lines to cast ballots in several counties. The crush at polling locations has prompted the state Democratic Party to call on Republican Secretary of State Karen Handel to extend polling hours, and keep polls open through the weekend. Handel says that cannot happen as state law does not provide for weekend voting, or provide for voting the day before Election Day. Handel says county officials will be busy through the weekend preparing for Tuesday’s expected flood of voters.

Handel: no mechanism for Saturday voting

Sign at the Fulton County Government Center, explaining early voting procedures, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Secretary of State Karen Handel -- a Republican who oversees Georgia elections -- says state law doesn't provide for weekend voting and prohibits voting on the Monday before Election Day.

Democratic Party Chair Jane Kidd on Tuesday called on Handel to request that the Department of Justice allow polls to remain open longer during the week, over the weekend, and on Monday, November 3:

“We have known that both the Democratic and Republican parties, their candidates, and even your office itself are encouraging voters to avail themselves of advance and early voting. And, we have known since advance voting began that large numbers of voters are doing just that. I am just mystified that your elections division is seemingly so unprepared for the wave of voters we all knew was coming."

Handel responded saying that county officials will be working through the weekend to prepare for the crush of voters.

Lines at the ballot box were down to under four hours in most places by Tuesday.

(AP)

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Gov. Perdue: 'Democracy's working' at the polls

(Photo: Carl Zornes)

With advance voting now under way, many Georgians are waiting in long lines to cast their ballots. But Governor Sonny Perdue said today that long lines aren’t necessarily a bad thing.

“I think democracy works best the more people we have vote, but frankly even with early voting and the lines…I take that as good news when people are willing to stand in the line to cast that vote, that means democracy’s working."

As election day nears, the governor said that the state is prepared to handle issues as they arise.

“We vote infrequently and we try to manage the demand…And sometimes we’re surprised by that, just as a few years ago when we didn’t have enough printed ballots. The way we cast our ballot now – that’s not an issue. But the number of places, the demand – we’ll respond to that dynamically as we go along."

Voters waiting in line to cast their ballot at the Fulton County Government Center, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Early voting ends this Friday.

Kidd calls for longer polling hours over delays

Upwards of 1,500 voters a day are casting their ballot at the Fulton Co. Government Center Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Jane Kidd, Democratic chair of the Georgia Democratic Party has complained to Secretary of State Karen Handel, over delays and technical problems during the first two days of advanced voting:

“We have known that both the Democratic and Republican parties, their candidates, and even your office itself are encouraging voters to avail themselves of advance and early voting. And, we have known since advance voting began that large numbers of voters are doing just that. I am just mystified that your elections division is seemingly so unprepared for the wave of voters we all knew was coming.

In a letter sent to Handel's office Tuesday, Kidd called on her to request that the Department of Justice allow polls to remain open longer during the week, over the weekend, and on Monday, November 3.

Meanwhile, long lines of voters snaked through polling stations in many parts of Georgia.


Signs instructing voters how to cast their ballot at the Fulton Co. Government Center, Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Voters turned out in droves Tuesday to cast their ballots for over 60 elections at the Fulton County Government Center, according to spokesman Bob Giordano:

"We've estimated 1,500 a day, sometimes more, sometimes less.

Voting officials check voter registration at the Fulton Co. Government Center, Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender).

While most voters patiently waited in line in the glassed-in atrium, elderly and handicapped voters were allowed to cast their ballots separately, on another floor, where they received special assistance from voting officials.


An elderly voter casts her ballot at the Fulton County Government Center, Tuesday Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Although there were some snafus on Monday, Giordano says voters were patient, as officials worked out technical problems:

"There were some problems at the state level, or in some cases at the local or county level, but generally everyone has been very understanding and kept their patience and cool and went through the system pretty easily - except for having to have patience and wait."

Elderly woman voter waits out the crowds at the Fulton Co. Government Center, Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)

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Advance voting could ease long lines

Today marks the beginning of advance voting week in Georgia. Registered voters will have more polling locations open in every county to cast ballots throughout the week, with many locations open until 7pm. Several counties have experienced heavy voter volume and long lines--Gwinnett County as example has reported lines as long as three hours or more during the early voting period which has been ongoing. Updated numbers from the Secretary of State's website show more than a million registered Georgians have already cast ballots in early voting. The general election is eight days away.

Early voting continues strong

Early voting in Georgia continues to be strong, now exactly two weeks from the general election. The Secretary of State’s office reports more than 690,000 people have cast ballots ahead of November 4th--that represents nearly 12.5 percent of registered voters in Georgia. More women than men have turned-out early, about 56 percent. DeKalb leads the list of top counties for early voting turnout, followed by three other metro Atlanta counties. Chatham County has had the fifth highest turnout.

Georgia early voting strong 3 weeks in

Nearly 500,000 Georgians have taken advantage of the early voting period in the state, which began September 22nd. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the numbers from the Secretary of State’s office. Of that 500,000 amount, more women than men have already cast ballots. The 500,000 figure is more than advance voting in the 2004 election. Secretary of State Karen Handel has said she’d like to see about a million Georgians vote early, to help relieve the expected crush at the polls November 4th.

Strong turnout for early voting in Cobb Co.

Looking over the sample ballots at the West Park Government Center, Monday, Oct,13, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Today, early voters in Cobb County waited patiently on line to cast their ballot in over 60 national, state and local races.

Voters waited upwards of an hour and a half to cast their ballots – a process that took about ten minutes.

Shannon Dunn is the director of elections and registration for Cobb County:

"As of Friday evening, we had voted 17,000 plus, in person here.”

Election officials at the West Park Government Center kept order as the line of voters snaked towards the entrance.

Numerous signs forbid electioneering within 150 feet of the building.

No campaigning with 150 feet of the West Park Government Center polling station, Monday, Oct 13, 2008. (Dave Bender)

One voter who appreciated that strictly-enforced rule is Florence Cadran, Massachusetts -born, but now a resident of Cobb County:

“I don’t remember them having the early voting in Massachusetts – but when I’d go there’d be 30-40 people from every different politician that was there with their signs – in your face – so it was almost like walking through a corridor to get to the voting place, so this is much nicer.”

Voters waited patiently in line to cast their ballots, Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, (Dave Bender)

Dunn she’s not spooked by the prospect of early voting concluding on October 31st -- Halloween eve.

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High turnout for early voting

Early voting is off to a fast start this year. In the 16 days since early voting started, nearly seven percent of registered voters cast their ballots. That compares to eight-and-a-half percent in the time leading up to the 2004 election. But Georgians had only five days to cast their ballots early in the last presidential race. Georgians cast more than 380,000 votes statewide through Wednesday. October 31st is the last day for early voting.

Early voting thus far "a success"

Early voting has been underway for a week, and the Secretary of State calls it a success. Georgians can cast ballots at local election offices or by mail. Over 100,000 people did that last week. Secretary of State Karen Handel is pleased.

"Very robust turnout so far which is exactly what we were hoping for so we could help ease those election day pressures".

Handel's goal is to get 25-percent of all votes cast before election day in November. She expects around 4-million Georgians to vote this year. And while campaigns across the state push to register voters, she says the registration pattern looks normal heading into th presidential election.

The last day to register to vote is October 6th. Early voting ends October 31st.

Early voting starts today

Early voting begins today across Georgia. Registered voters can cast their ballots ahead of November’s general election either in person or by mail. State election officials are urging those who can to go ahead and cast early to help relieve the expected crush at the polls November 4th. The Secretary of State’s office says it hopes to have about a quarter of all eligible to vote to do so early. You can get more information by going to the Secretaty’s websitre: sos.georgia.gov

Early voting for 10th Congressional district

The early voting period begins today in the 10th Congressional District race, to replace the late Charlie Norwood. Voters can cast their ballot early this week, or wait until June 19th, next Tuesday, to choose the successor to Norwood. The field has 10 candidates-6 Republicans, 3 Democrats, and a Libertarian. There is one statewide televised debate ahead--that will be broadcast tomorrow night on GPB television.