Voters in Georgia are already lining up at the polls

ATLANTA ? Inga Willis was voter number 720 at an early voting polling site Tuesday in southwest Atlanta. She said at least another 50 people were lined up behind her.

“I’m encouraged to be 720 and not number seven,’’ said Willis, a Georgia state representative, who cast her ballot just before noon. “I’m encouraged because it’s the first day of early voting and people haven’t left work yet.”

Willis was among the record number of Georgians who cast ballots at the start of the state’s early voting. More than 305,000 people had voted when polls closed Tuesday nearly double the number in previous election.

By 10:29 a.m. more than 71,000 people had voted, putting the state on track to set a record, according to state election officials.

“Turnout has just been strong statewide everywhere,’’ Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told USA Today early Tuesday. “People are engaged. Voters are engaged. It means that the starter’s gun has gone off and people were ready at 7 a.m.’’

Turnout will be key in the tight presidential race in the battleground state. Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, and former GOP President Donald Trump have frequently visited the state. Trump held a rally in Georgia Tuesday and Harris is scheduled to return Saturday. Both campaigns are urging supporters to show up early.

“Georgia continues to be the center of the political universe because we are a true battleground state,’’ said U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, a Democrat. “We don’t have a lot of undecided voters. We have a very inelastic electorate where we know that it comes down to turning out our voters.’’

In 2020 and 2022, more than 135,000 people voted the first day of early voting, said Raffensperger, a Republican.

Long lines, celebratory atmosphere

By 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, there was a line of voters out the door at the C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center in southwest Atlanta. Throughout the day, a steady stream of voters had visited the polling site. Music blasted nearby. A food truck served up free wings.

Dozens of women, many sporting a T-shirt that read, “Overload the Polls,’’ had gathered to vote together. It was part of a campaign launched by the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda aimed at getting Black women to vote early and bring along family and friends.

“We’re here to make sure our voices are heard and to make sure that everyone gets out to vote,’’ said Helen Butler, the organization’s executive director, noting that women are the highest voting demographic in the state. “We are starting it off right. We’re going to overload the polls.”

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Talon Chestnut, 18, a first time voter, said she was excited to cast her ballot.

No one had explained the process to her, she said. “It’s different when you get inside,” but she said she “absolutely” plans to vote again and will tell her friends to go vote, too. “I have to vote to keep myself and my family safe.”

Her mother Donita Hammond-Grant, 46, came, too.

“I’m so proud that she’s voting, to get my youngest baby out here,“ she said.

Hammond-Grant plans to come back to the polls to escort two of her other children who would also be first-time voters.

Campaigns and civic engagement groups have ramped up get-out-the-vote efforts in part to make sure there’s a clear winner on Election Day.

“We want to leave no doubt,’’ said Williams, chair of the state Democratic Party. “We know it’s going to be close. That’s why we have to make sure that we’re turning out as many voters as possible.’’

Raffensperger pointed to changes the state has made to improve access to voting and the integrity of the system, including confirming only American citizens can vote, verifying the voter list and checking the equipment.

“We’ve really got everything corralled in the way it should be,’’ he said noting praise the state has received from bipartisan groups. “We have a great story to tell here in Georgia.’’

Controversial new rules

But some voting rights groups have raised concerns about election changes, including requiring a hand count of ballots before certification. They said some concerns about election barriers may have spurred more people to show up Tuesday.

“People are a bit more hyper aware,’’ said Willis, a Democrat running for reelection.

Meanwhile, activists and election officials said it was important to ensure voters in areas hit hard by recent hurricanes didn't have problems.

Raffensperger said officials assessed the needs of those counties, making sure there was power and accessible locations for voters. He said only a handful had to be shifted.

“We’re really grateful for all the support we’ve gotten,’’ he said. “It’s been really powerful. We’re in good shape. A lot of people are surprised, but people worked a lot of overtime to make it happen.’’

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 305,000: Georgia's first-day early voting turnout breaks record