Early voting day 2: Massive turnout, long lines at polling places after record day in Georgia

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — As day No. 2 of early voting neared an end Tuesday, it was another day full of long lines and wait times for voters.

At least 111,942 voters cast ballots in person Tuesday, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. That brings the two-day total for advance voting in Georgia to 241,706.

The Secretary of State’s office says more than 128,000 people cast votes early on Monday. So far, more than 600,000 ballots have already been cast in Georgia for the general election after the first day of early voting, and in addition to the 473,000 absentee ballots returned.

[Your Voice, Your Vote: Complete Channel 2 Action News coverage of 2020 Election]

New numbers from @GaSecofState: so far, more than 600,000 ballots have already been cast in Georgia for the general election. 126,854 people voted on day 1 of early voting. 473,341 absentee ballots have already been returned
— Justin Gray (@JustinGrayWSB) October 13, 2020

In south Fulton County, Channel 2′s Sophia Choi went to the Wolf Creek Library, where some people waited three to four hours to vote.

Despite the lines, Fulton County leaders consider the election a success so far.

“We decided to get umbrella, chairs, water and stuff like that, and made sure we had face protection and everything to be safe,” voter Jasmine Norman said.

[UPLOAD: Post your photos of early voting in your area here]

It took Warren Spirling four hours to vote at the library. He said it was worth every minute to make his choice and get his sticker.

“It was relatively safe, and it was a good experience,” Spirling said.

Fulton county quickly addressed issues at a few precincts from Monday.

County leaders say they’re not surprised to see lines, with so many people interested in this election.

About 20,000 people voted in person in Fulton County on Monday.

[Amendments and resolutions on Georgia ballot: What do they mean?]

Election officials say they expect even more — the most ever — on Oct. 30, the last day of early voting.

“We’re expecting to exceed 30,000 voters that day,” Fulton County election director Richard Barron said.

Fulton County said what’s causing the most delays are people who want to cancel their absentee ballots and vote in person.

“That is contributing to extending the lines,” Barron said.

In Gwinnett County, wait times Tuesday varied greatly. County officials told Channel 2′s Tony Thomas that times ranged from 45 minutes at one polling location to more than eight hours at Gwinnett’s election headquarters.

[COUNTY-BY-COUNTY: Where can I early vote in north Georgia?]

The Gwinnett elections director told Thomas there’s not much else they can do. County elections director Kristi Royston says her team is looking at potential adjustments but can only fit so many machines in at certain locations.

Voter turnout for Day 1 was six times higher than in 2016. Gwinnett has opened multiple voting sites this year, including the county fairgrounds.

“I think it’s going to be like this every day and I want to make sure I vote,” voter Celia McCarty told Thomas.

In Cobb County, lines largely were listed at under two hours on Tuesday. The main elections office had a 200-minute wait time, but Riverside EpiCenter and the North Cobb senior center had wait times of only 90 minutes.

The first day of early voting broke the 2016 record of 90,000 for a single day.

So many people voted that Douglas County has already announced plans to open a new early voting site.

1 of 57