WASHINGTON (TNND) — The 2024 election is shaping up to be a record-breaking year in Georgia, with the state shattering its record for the number of ballots cast on the first day of early voting.
One notable early voter was former President Jimmy Carter, who voted by mail on Wednesday, as confirmed by the Carter Center. The former peanut farmer turned commander-in-chief recently celebrated his 100th birthday and had previously stated that his goal for this year was to vote for Kamala Harris for president.
Record-Breaking Turnout
According to data from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a staggering 328,753 ballots were cast in Georgia on Tuesday, nearly doubling the previous first-day early voting record of approximately 160,000 set in 2020. This number reflects a combination of in-person voting, which accounted for about 95% of the total, as well as returned absentee and mail-in ballots.
A breakdown of the voting demographics reveals that women represented the largest segment of voters, making up 54.1% of the total. Among age groups, Georgians aged 60 to 69 cast 117,548 votes over Tuesday and Wednesday, the largest share of any age group. Notably, voters aged 65 to 69 were the highest single bracket, contributing 62,273 votes or 11% of the total ballots cast. In contrast, the lowest turnout was seen among voters aged over 84 and those between 25 and 29, who accounted for only 1.7% of the ballots.
Official Statements on Voter Turnout
“Georgia voters shattered records yesterday and came out in record numbers because they know Georgia’s voting system is secure, efficient, and accurate,” Raffensperger stated to The National News Desk. He emphasized that Georgia is recognized for its election integrity and voter convenience.
Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer for the Secretary of State’s Office, expressed his satisfaction with the turnout, commending the counties and the voting system’s performance. “We are all pretty happy with yesterday’s turnout,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).
These statements serve not only as reassurances of a secure electoral process but also as a response to election deniers and misinformation, particularly in light of the backlash faced by Raffensperger and Sterling from then-President Donald Trump and his supporters after the 2020 election.
Legal Challenges and Implications
The surge in early voting comes in the wake of a federal judge blocking a controversial rule recently implemented by Georgia’s State Election Board, which included three Trump allies among its five members. This rule would have required all ballots to be both hand-counted and machine-counted, raising concerns among legal experts about potential chaos and disruption in the vote-counting process.
On Tuesday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled that the hand-counting rule was “too much, too late,” temporarily blocking its enforcement while he reviews the case’s merits. In a separate ruling, he stated that election superintendents and board members cannot refuse to certify election results under any circumstances, asserting that delays in receiving information do not justify a refusal to certify.
Conclusion
As Georgia gears up for the 2024 election, the record early voting turnout underscores the state’s pivotal role in the electoral process. With influential figures like Jimmy Carter casting their votes, and amidst ongoing legal challenges and reassurances of election integrity, all eyes will be on Georgia as it navigates this election cycle.
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