Georgia: Georgia has reported an early voting record on the first day of the U.S. elections, stressing strong voter engagement in the key battleground state. As of 4 PM ET on October 15th, more than 251,000 voters had cast their ballots in person, far exceeding the previous record of 133,000 set in 2020.
This year’s election features a high-stakes race for the White House, with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris facing off against Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump. Georgia, with its 16 electoral votes, is regarded as one of the critical swing states that could decide the outcome of the election.
Election officials, including Gabriel Sterling from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, voiced astonishment at the early turnout numbers, signalling enthusiasm among voters as the November 5 Election Day approaches.
Update: Georgia voters have surpassed all daily records for any day of early voting in 2022. We’ve had 234k voters as of 3:30pm. Our county election directors are outstanding, and Georgia voters are energized!
— GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (@GaSecofState) October 15, 2024
Historically, early voting in Georgia has favoured Democrats, but both parties have prompted voters to cast their ballots early. Trump and Harris are actively campaigning in Georgia, with Trump hosting a rally in Atlanta and Harris scheduled for an event later this week.
The record turnout comes as polls show a close race between the candidates in Georgia, with the state’s significant Black voter population expected to play a key role. Trump’s previous attempts to overturn the 2020 results in Georgia, showing state-level racketeering charges, continue to loom over the current election.
In the latest developments, a court ruling ensures election results must be certified, a move aimed at controlling election board members from refusing certification, as concerns over potential election disputes persist.
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