Long Lines During Only Weekend Of Early Voting In Georgia Runoff Election

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Georgia voters made use of the reinstated Saturday voting and Sunday voting in several counties around the state. Voters across metro Atlanta reported waiting in long lines to cast their ballots in the race to decide who would represent Georgia in the Senate.

Sen. Raphael Warnock is facing Republican challenger Herschel Walker for the final time. The winner will serve a full six-year term in the Senate.

Nearly 80,000 Georgians voted on Saturday despite Republican leadership trying to deny voters the opportunity. Countless voters wouldn’t have been able to vote if Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr had their way.

Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter, called the delay confusing. Despite being celebrated as a “hero” who defended Democracy after the 2020 election, Raffensperger objected to the provision of Saturday voting after the Thanksgiving Holiday, citing his interpretation of state law.

This is good news, but we should all be VERY clear: Kemp/@GaSecofState achieved #VoterSuppression they wanted to. They caused enough delay and confusion that most counties won’t be able (or willing) to add Saturday voting at this point. It’s also left many *voters* confused… https://t.co/l35qv89Vtt

— Cliff Albright (@cliff_notes) November 22, 2022

Given the shortened election period, Saturday voting made it possible for college students home for the holidays to take part before returning to school. In between sharing pictures of long lines Saturday afternoon, Twitter users made sure to note that groups had to sue to allow Saturday voting.

Absolutely INSANE line in Dekalb County to vote in the Georgia Senate runoff.

Never forget they had to be sued to allow us to vote today. pic.twitter.com/Lz9o8iq7dP

— Sergeantpup (@SergeantPup) November 26, 2022

Another Twitter user said she waited upwards of two hours alongside her daughter to vote at the East Point Library in Fulton County, GA.

We ended up waiting almost 2 hours at East Point Library… #vote My daughter who is in her early 20s and I had a Mother/Daughter day! Let’s Go! #voteRaphaelWarnock #RaphaelWarnock #vote #gapol #GArunoff @rolandsmartin #JoyReid #GASenRunoff #GAsen pic.twitter.com/KfScmV5hK5

— Dimp (@authenticreel) November 27, 2022

Warnock joined several voting rights groups in challenging the secretary of state’s decision to restrict Saturday voting ahead of the Dec. 6 runoff. Ultimately, a Fulton County judge ordered that providing Saturday voting would be left up to the individual counties.

Attorney Marc Elias tweeted about the impact of the lawsuit to make Saturday voting available.

“We sued to ensure Georgia counties could offer voting today and won,” Elias tweeted. “Republicans appealed all the way to the conservative GA Supreme Court. We won again and again. Next time someone tells you there is no point in litigating to protect voting rights, show them this video.”

We sued to ensure Georgia counties could offer voting today and won. Republicans appealed all the way to the conservative GA Supreme Court. We won again and again.

Next time someone tells you there is no point in litigating to protect voting rights, show them this video. https://t.co/yWrrM8WuTf

— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) November 26, 2022

ABC reporter Lalee Ibssa said that Warnock waited approximately an hour at an early voting location in Atlanta before casting his ballot. Some counties also offered Sunday voting as well. Rev. Dr. William Barber II joined Black Voters Matter in Columbus, GA, for a Souls to the Polls early voting rally.

Join us today for our “Souls to the Polls” rally! Alongside @MsLaToshaBrown of @BlackVotersMtr, @yannasoulsings & more! Today is the first day for early voting in the Georgia senate race! @BRepairers @GeorgiaPPC @UniteThePoor pic.twitter.com/dQlteE06uS

— Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II (@RevDrBarber) November 27, 2022

Early voting in all 159 counties starts Monday, Nov. 28 and runs through Friday, Dec. 2. The runoff election period was significantly reduced as a result of the big lie influenced SB 202 passed after Democrats won both Georgia senate seats.