Non-credible threats briefly disrupted voting at two polling locations in Georgia on Tuesday morning, leading to a temporary evacuation and a subsequent effort to extend voting hours. According to local officials, five non-credible bomb threats were reported, resulting in a brief evacuation at two Fulton County locations. Nadine Williams, the county’s registration and elections director, confirmed the incidents during a news conference.
Fortunately, the affected locations, C.H. Gullatt Elementary and Etris Community Center in Union City, southwest of Atlanta, are now operational again. Williams assured the public that all polling sites are secure with an active security presence in place. In response to the disruptions, county officials are planning to seek a court order to keep the two locations open slightly later than originally scheduled.
The Fulton County School Police Department received information early Tuesday morning about potential bomb threats targeting schools. While no elementary schools were specifically threatened, law enforcement conducted precautionary sweeps at multiple locations. It is worth noting that students in the district were not in school that day due to the election.
Margaret Huang, president and chief executive of the Southern Poverty Law Center, commended Fulton County's prompt response to the threats and their proactive measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the voting process. Huang emphasized the importance of not allowing such incidents to disrupt the democratic exercise of voting.
