Early voters in Georgia cast their votes in more numbers on Monday, the initial day of early voting for the May 24 primary contest, than at any time in the state’s history.
Voter turnout more than doubled from the previous year’s race.
More GOP Turnout
According to election results, 27,298 Georgians cast ballots in person, with more GOP ballots being cast than Democratic ballots.
“Record turnout on the first day of early voting is a testament to an elections system that ensures top-level security and ease of access…Georgia voters statewide experienced short or nonexistent lines and a smooth voting process.”https://t.co/Lw94sGmDds
— GA Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (@GaSecofState) May 3, 2022
According to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, “record participation rates on the first day of primary voting is a demonstration of an election system that guarantees top-level security and ease of access.”
Raffensperger also commented voters in the state reported experiencing “short lines” and a “seamless voting process.”
14,950 voters voted in person on the first day of early polling in the 2020 primary contest, according to the National Elections Project.
Voter turnout increased to 326,000 by the end of early voting on Election Day. In the 2018 primary election, 9,266 persons cast ballots on the first voting day.
This year, Georgia will host a slew of high-profile primary contests that will put former President Trump’s imprint on the state’s once-ruby-red political landscape to the test.
For one, in the contest for governor, Republican sitting Gov. Brian Kemp is up against Trump-backed David Perdue.
Trump pledged to exact vengeance on Kemp for his refusal to invalidate the results of the 2020 presidential election.
GEORGIA ELECTION 2022: Voters cast a record number of ballots across Georgia on the first day of early voting in the 2022 primaries. https://t.co/9u6wMHOb1P
— FOX 5 Atlanta (@FOX5Atlanta) May 3, 2022
He and his passionate Georgia following have slammed the governor, dragged him through the mud, and labeled him unpatriotic on numerous occasions.
They also asserted Kemp is solely to blame for almost anything and everything, from inflation to the war in Ukraine, among other things.
The Donald Trump Factor
Trump hand-picked Perdue to take on Kemp, including paying a $500,000 retainer to an organization tasked with developing attack advertisements against him.
Despite the efforts, multiple statewide surveys indicate that Kemp has a significant lead over Perdue in the race for governor.
Raffensperger is also opposed by a candidate who President Donald Trump has endorsed. Per a recent poll conducted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Raffensperger and Rep. Jody Hice are virtually tied in their support.
Within the poll’s margin of error of 3.3 percent, around 28 percent of respondents favored Raffensperger, and 26 percent supported Hice, according to the results. Approximately 37% are still undecided.
Election denial is the foundation of Hice’s campaign. Despite multiple recounts, numerous court challenges, and recurring investigations, Hice continues to insist that President Donald Trump won the state.
Raffensperger has stated that candidates such as Hice are to blame for weakening public confidence in US elections.
In the end, the election in Georgia will be very interesting. It will be nice to see how everything pans out later. Will it be the GOP or the Democrats? Still soon to say.
