Nearly 2 million people have already voted across Georgia

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The secretary of state’s office says nearly 2 million people have voted early across the state.

That number is going to keep going higher with Friday being the last day to vote early.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot went to DeKalb County on Wednesday to see how early voting was going there.

Elections officials said 20% of the 500,000 registered voters in DeKalb County have already voted.

Voters there and in other counties continue to recommend early voting to avoid problems on Election Day.

“I want to make sure my vote matters and I have a voice. And I think it’s best to get in and vote early and not wait around for the long lines,” voter Marcia Lovely of Stone Mountain said.

It’s that fear of long lines and other problems on Election Day that elections officials say is driving people to vote early.

Gwinnett’s election chief Zach Manifold told Elliot that voting early is the way to go to avoid unforeseen issues.

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“I tell people, ‘Don’t wait until Election Day unless you really have to,’ because you never know, an illness or something that pops up,” Manifold said.

DeKalb elections supervisor Keisha Smith said while there were some long lines early on in the early voting process, there’s hardly any lines at polling location now — but still a lot of enthusiasm.

“The lines have reduced here in DeKalb County, but the excitement has not wavered, so voters are still coming in,” Smith said.

Heather Harris of Decatur just moved here from New Orleans and is ready to vote.

“I didn’t know what the lines would be like. First time voting in Georgia. Just moved from New Orleans, so I didn’t know what it was going to be like. Just wanted to, I don’t know, be efficient,” Harris said.

Clayton County emailed Elliot and said nearly 50,000 people have voted early there.

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Several counties testing out new system election leaders believe will make early voting more secure Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne got a first-hand look at the new project.

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