ATLANTA — Voters encountered few lines and limited problems as Election Day got underway in Georgia on Monday, making their voices heard in one of the most politically competitive states in the nation.
Some voters arrived at the polls to find their precincts had been moved to different locations. Others had short waits during the initial morning rush. Several voting locations had problems starting voting machines.
The primary will determine Republican and Democratic nominees for governor and U.S. Senate, along with closely watched campaigns for secretary of state, Congress, lieutenant governor and other statewide offices.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at neighborhood precincts across Georgia.
At North Decatur Presbyterian Church, two voting touchscreens weren’t working because of a problem with their batteries, but poll workers said they had enough functioning touchscreens to avoid delays. About 70 voters cast ballots in the first hour of voting.
Dan Richardson, a high school teacher, said he’s more worried about election conspiracy theorists that voting equipment.
“People have inordinate concerns about claims of fraud and voting rigging,” Richardson said after voting. “It’s good that we have a paper backup.”
Another voter, Marcia King, said she needed help from a poll worker to figure out how to print her ballot from the touchscreen.
“This was very easy with no problems at all, and people were there to help,” King said.
There was a last-minute change before Election Day: Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Monday disqualified Democrat Patty Durand from the race for Public Service Commission because she doesn’t live in the eastern Georgia district she’s seeking to represent after redistricting earlier this year. Durand’s disqualification leaves Republican Tim Echols and Democrat Russell Edwards as the two remaining candidates in the race.
During in-person early voting over the last three weeks, Georgia voters shattered turnout records for a primary.
More than 795,000 cast ballots over the last three weeks — 2 1/2 times higher than the presidential primary two years ago. An additional 64,000 voters have returned absentee ballots so far.
On Election Day, primary turnout typically approaches 900,000 more voters.
To advance to the general election in November, candidates must win more than 50% of the vote. In races with several candidates, if no one wins a majority, runoffs will be held in four weeks on June 21.
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