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ACC Voters See Shorter Lines on Election Day

Athens Messenger

Clarke County residents who chose to cast their ballots via early in-person voting saw waits up to two and a half hours in line. But as Megan Wahn tells us, that’s not the case today. 

 

After three weeks of early voting, the final day for voters to cast their ballots is here. 

 

As of last Friday, some 37-thousand people voted in advance, accounting for nearly half of registered Clarke County voters, according to Georgiavotes.com, and today, more are projected to join them. 

Charlotte Sosebee, the Director of Elections and Voter Registration in Athens-Clarke County anticipates around 19-thousand people will vote today and estimates a final voter turnout will be somewhere between 76 to 78 percent which is similar to the 2016 Election.    

 

“I think it will be similar except for the votes will be categorized a little different," according to Sosebee. "As far as election day, we had a little over 19-thousand in 2016, so we’ll have close to that amount again, this time.”

 

Polls are open until 7 pm and as long as you’re in line by 7 pm, you’ll be able to vote. 

 

Charles Knapper is with the board of elections. 

 

“We had long lines in early voting, it’s going well though, it’s steady.”

 

Lucas Trevor interviewed voters and poll workers earlier today. 

 

Voter Joe said he found the process went fairly smoothly.   

“I was kind of expecting some long lines. I wouldn't say it’s a ghost town in there, but it's very empty, it’s very fast.

Josie Veal was an early voter. 

Credit The Red and Black

Trevor: Have you voted already? Did you vote early? Are you going to vote today?

Veal: I did vote early.

Trevor: How did you vote? Absentee? 

Veal: I voted in-person, early in-person.

Quintez is voting in his first presidential election and he says he found it easier to vote this Election Day. 

“I did come last week to try to early vote, and there was a line and I didn’t have time.” 

Ian Levitt is a poll clerk who also voted in his first presidential election. 

“I'm 19 years old so this is the first election I’ve been a part of.”

Voters did have to follow social distancing guidelines and wear masks. 

While polls close at 7 pm, anyone in line by then can still vote. 

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!
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