Georgia Election Problems: Power Cords Missing, Technical Issues and More As Voter Polling Places Plagued By Issues
UPDATE: 6:44 p.m. EDT—Democratic nominee for Georgia Governor Stacey Abrams confirmed on Twitter that poll hours were extended in Gwinnett County following widespread issues on election day.
BREAKING: Poll hours have been extended in Gwinnett County! 🚨
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) November 6, 2018
Annistown Elementary School NOW OPEN UNTIL 9:25pm
Anderson-Livsey Elementary School NOW OPEN UNTIL 7:30pm
Harbins Elementary School NOW OPEN UNTIL 7:14pm
Original story:
As voters made their way to polls across America on Tuesday, polling places in Georgia were plagued by issues hindering voters' ability to cast a ballot in an especially tight race.
The midterm battle is particularly heated in Georgia as Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams appear to be neck and neck. The race could prove historic: should Abrams win, she would be the first black female governor in the United States. Some voters in the state, however, reported having to wait in line for hours in an attempt to cast their vote.
Follow Newsweek's live updates for the latest information on the 2018 midterm elections.
Gwinnett County, Georgia, the second largest county in the state, was hit by widespread issues in particular. At least three polling stations were affected, according to Vice News. A polling place at Annistown Elementary School near Snellville in Gwinnett County reported widespread technical issues, causing long lines and prompting voters to cast paper ballots instead.
Similar problems at Annistown Elementary, also in Snellville. Machines are completely down and currently the only option is paper ballots. Cheryl Strickland has been here since 6:15am (45 min before polls opened) and will not leave until she can vote on a machine. pic.twitter.com/hiV0HfGHEc
— Amanda Coyne (@AmandaCCoyne) November 6, 2018
"Machines are completely down and currently the only option is paper ballots," Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Amanda Coyne tweeted.
Meanwhile, at another polling place in Gwinnett County, power cords needed for voting machines to function were not provided, NBC News reported.
A group of Georgia voters filed a lawsuit on Tuesday afternoon attempting to stop Kemp from involvement in counting voters and presiding over the election, according to NewsHour reporter Courtney Norris. Kemp is, in addition to being the secretary of state, the chief official overseeing the election. Charges of voter suppression have been leveled against him, while Kemp has accused Democrats of attempting to hack voter registration files.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
