Live updates: ‘Pretty historic day’ in Columbus as voting wraps up across Georgia
It’s Election Day, Columbus.
The Ledger-Enquirer staff will travel around to polls today and provide updates on wait times, technical issues, voter reactions and more. Have trouble voting or want to share some information with us? Email newsroom@ledger-enquirer.com or send us a message on Facebook.
The 25 neighborhood polls around the city opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. But anyone in line at that time is able to vote, so don’t be thrown off by large crowds. A poll worker will stand at the end of the line once polls close and turn any latecomers away.
Voters wanting to double-check their precinct or what’s on the ballot this election cycle can visit the My Voter Page on the Georgia Secretary of State website.
Once polls close, workers will start to tabulate results. Nancy Boren, executive director of the Muscogee County Board of Elections and Registration, said she expects results to be available tonight. Partial results of the absentees and early in-person voting could be available as early as 8 p.m.
Looking for last-minute resources? Check out some of these links:
- Columbus Elections and Registration Office (Here you can find general information about elections in our area.)
- Who’s on your 2020 ballot and what do they stand for? Find out in our voter guide
- Need a ride to vote? Contact these Columbus groups.
- What Georgia voters need at the polls, plus ideas for passing time in line
- Why am I being asked to fill out a provisional ballot?
Here’s the latest from the polls:
6:30 p.m.: No issues were reported at two of Columbus’ southernmost precincts, the Cusseta Road Church of Christ and Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church on Old Cusseta Road.
“It’s just nice and smooth,” said Vanessa Green, who was offering snacks and water outside the Church of Christ, where she’d counted 444 voters coming and going as of 4:40 p.m. “The early voting saved us,” she said of Muscogee County’s massive early turnout, in which more than half the city’s registered voters cast ballots either in person or by mail.
Green and other volunteers were there on behalf of the Greater Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church on 12th Avenue.
At Mt. Pilgrim, poll manager Amber Wooden said 405 people had voted as of 4:50 p.m., with “no issues” and “smooth sailing.”
She 27 people were in line when the poll opened at 7 a.m., but after that early rush the precinct had no waiting, she said.
Outside poll watcher Justin Gardiner echoed that, saying he’d observed “no problems at all” there throughout the day. — Tim Chitwood, tchitwood@ledger-enquirer.com
Jay Jones, 31, walked out of the polling location at Cornerstone Church of God on Lloyd Road just before 6:30 p.m.
The most important election on the ballot, she said, was the presidential race. She voted for Joe Biden.
”Trump’s crazy,” she said.
Jones was one of nearly 900 voters who cast their ballots at the location Tuesday, said poll manager Ann Porter.
”We’ve had a lot of early voters who pre-voted,” she said. “We had over 3,000 to early vote at this precinct.” — Nick Wooten, nwooten@ledger-enquirer.com
4:30 p.m. Voting is wrapping up “slow and steady” at the precinct at Wynnbrook Baptist Church, 500 River Knoll Way, according to assistant poll manager Richard Barrow.
By 4 p.m. on Tuesday, 259 ballots have been cast so far at the polling location. In the 2016 election cycle, over 900 votes were cast here.
The polling place issued only two provisional ballots so far, and redirected voters at the wrong polling stations. Beyond a queue of 20 people when the polls opened, this location has been getting voters in and out quickly.
“It’s surprising by 4 o’clock that’s all there is,” said Barrow. But he explained the surrounding area has a large retired demographic who were encouraged to vote early or by mail. — Madeleine Cook, mcook@ledger-enquirer.com
12:54 p.m. Carmen Buckner has been helping to conduct elections for four or five years, but this is his first presidential election as a poll manager at the St. John precinct in the Shirley Winston Recreation Center, 5025 Steam Mill Road.
He and his eight-person crew tested the 20 voting machines Monday. It was tough to sleep, and he arrived around 5:15 a.m. for final preparations.
“My mind was rolling,” he said with a laugh, “just anticipating what it was going to be.”
Buckner took the day off from his job at Aflac to serve democracy in his community.
“It’s a pretty historic day,” he said. “I just wanted make sure we’re in the best position to serve the voters that come to this precinct. … Seeing that excitement from that first-time voter all the way up to someone that’s 94 years of age come through, I just want to make sure they have that good feeling.”
About 15 voters were in line when the poll opened at 7 a.m. Nobody had to wait after that, Buckner said, with a total of 115 voters by 12:30 p.m.
“Everything’s been running pretty smooth,” he said.
The only trouble, Buckner said, has been five folks having to file a provisional ballot because they weren’t registered to vote at that precinct.
Retired U.S. Army Col. Ron Akers and a half dozen of his Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers had free snacks and water available for voters outside the rec center. The fraternity provides this service every Election Day, he emphasized.
“To us, every voting sequence is essential,” he said.
They wore T-shirts declaring, “I. Will. Vote!”
— Mark Rice, mrice@ledger-enquirer.com
12:40 p.m.: Many first-time voters, some in their 60s and 70s, have visited Our Lady of Lourdes today, poll manager Tscharner Love said.
Love, who has served in the position for over a decade, said the precinct has seen over 300 voters as of noon.
Individuals provided water and snacks for voters outside the church’s exit doors, while Ariana Grande played over speakers.
No major issues have occurred today, a trend that seems to be true for many of Columbus’ polls. — Joshua Mixon, jmixon@ledger-enquirer.com
12:10 p.m.: Over 400 ballots have been processed at the Psalmond Road precinct, according to poll manager Frances Rodgers.
Between 100 and 125 voters were lined up this morning before the polls opened, Rodgers said. She expects the flow of voters to remain steady through the rest of the afternoon and evening.
“With the new poll pads this year, everything has been much easier. We love not having to use a lot of machines,” she said. — Tandra Smith, tasmith@ledger-enquirer.com
11:40 a.m.: The church gymnasium at Faith Tabernacle Community Church, 1603 Floyd Road, has been fashioned into a voting precinct for Election Day, but the parking lot is busier than inside.
134 Columbus residents had cast their ballot by 11 a.m. Meanwhile, a half dozen volunteers from local churches have been staffing tables outside the station, offering outgoing voters cold water or snacks.
“We want to ease the pain of waiting in long lines with food and water, maybe a joke or two,” said Willie Lawrence, head deacon at the church. He said there were 20 voters in line at 7 a.m., but hasn’t seen a crowd since.
Also standing vigil outside is Gail Pitts, 63, a first-time poll observer from Columbus representing the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). “I’m just here to observe,” she said. She lives nearby and since retirement has been looking for ways to give back to her local community.
Pitts is monitoring for any kind of disruption at the polls, a passive observer reporting back to the local elections office about any voter interference.
Poll manager and former police officer James McClenton, 81, ushers voters inside the precinct. He has been working at the polls for five years.
“When I was a kid, my mother had to pay poll tax to vote,” he said. “And now, I feel like I’m doing something good, trying to get everyone to vote. I don’t care who you vote for, just vote.” — Madeleine Cook, mcook@ledger-enquirer.com
9:30 a.m.: Poll manager Margaret Higdon started Election Day with a breakfast for her crew of poll workers. They ate together and debriefed before voters began to arrive.
Debbie McMillan, 63, is a first-time poll clerk and retired Gentian Elementary schoolteacher. Her husband also volunteers. “It gives us a little something to do a couple times a year,” she said.
By 9:30 a.m., the precinct at Wynnbrook Baptist Church, 500 River Knoll Way, had seen close to 100 voters filter through, Higdon said.
An issue at the forefront of the 2020 election season has been tracking problems at the polls. But Higdon said only three or four voters this morning were turned away and redirected to their correct voting precinct.
“It was surprisingly easy. It took five minutes at most,” first-time voter Cassie McQuarrie, 19, said moments after casting her ballot.
McQuarrie said poll workers wore face masks and voters had a quick turnaround once inside. “I expected it to be a lot more crowded on the last day to vote, but it wasn’t,” she said.
Voter apathy is another trigger in this election season. McQuarrie said she can relate— she voted for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, but said she’s not feeling very excited: “I genuinely do care but I’ve gotten a little numb to it.” — Madeleine Cook, mcook@ledger-enquirer.com
9:20 a.m.: About 300 voters have showed up to the St. Andrews precinct, 4980 Hancock Road, so far this morning. Twenty to 25 people were in line when the poll opened.
Jimmy Mummert, assistant poll manager, said more than 50% of registered voters in this precinct had already voted by absentee or early voting. Only minor delays related to address changes and canceling absentee ballots have been reported.
“My goal is to vote everybody who’s eligible to vote,” Mummert said.
That large early turnout has kept lines down and helped the voting process run smoothly, he said.
Poll worker Tami Romo is the first face voters see at the precinct. She’s stationed at the entrance to welcome voters, direct them to the check-in stations inside and act as a resource for any issues voters may have.
Jay Ward, a poll watcher from Portland, Oregon, is affiliated with the Democratic party and flew to Georgia just for Election Day.
Ward is observing the voting process from the parking lot of St. Andrews. He is not an official poll worker through the Muscogee County elections office and is not interacting with voters. — Mike Haskey, mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
8:30 a.m.: Edgewood Baptist Church, 3564 Forrest Road, has been calm and steady all morning, poll manager Allena Sperry said.
“It’s been smooth sailing so far, far better than in June,” she said.
There was a person waiting in the parking lot at 6 a.m., an hour before polls opened. Twenty to 30 people were in line by 7 a.m. and 75 ave voted so far. — Tandra Smith, tasmith@ledger-enquirer.com
8:17 a.m.: Gwendolyn Davis, poll manager at the Salvation Army precinct, 5201 Warm Springs Road, said they had 40 people in line when doors opened at 7 a.m.
She said voting has gone smoothly and no technical issues have occurred. At 8:09 a.m., 99 votes had been recorded.
Residents are coming in one or two at a time to vote. There is currently no line outside or inside the precinct. — Mike Haskey, mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
8:11 a.m.: Two people stood in line to vote at Columbus Technical College. Halloween candy and “I voted” stickers awaited them once they finished.
The morning rush of voters has just concluded, poll manager Tureka Watts said. Seventy-nine people had voted so far.
She expects more voters to arrive as the day goes on, especially once people are off work and out of school. — Joshua Mixon, jmixon@ledger-enquirer.com
7:10 a.m.: There’s no line to vote at the Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road. A steady flow of residents went in and out of the building and no major issues have been reported.
Aflac volunteers will be handing out snacks at this precinct as the day goes on. — Tandra Smith, tasmith@ledger-enquirer.com
7:00 a.m.: A line of about 100 voters filled the inside of Canaan Baptist Church, 2835 Branton Woods Drive, and stretched outside the front entrance early Tuesday morning, as the first ballots of Election Day were cast.
Lines were moving smoothly and, at the time, no voting issues were reported.
David Neel, who wore a Vietnam War Veteran hat, was one of the voters who braved the frigid early-morning temperatures to cast their vote.
Neel said it’s important that Americans vote to “take it back.”
“(It’s important to) do the part that needs to be done,” Neel said. “We need somebody to take care of us.”
Canaan had technical issues during June’s General Primary election that led to long lines throughout the day. — Joshua Mixon, jmixon@ledger-enquirer.com
6:58 a.m.: Twenty-three people were in line at the Holsey Monumental CME Church precinct, 6028 Buena Vista Road, before the poll opened. The first voter said he arrived around 5:10 a.m.
Merrill Smith and Doug McLeod are volunteering with the Muscogee County elections office as “outside poll watchers.” In that role, they stand outside of the precinct to make sure voting goes smoothly and report back about once an hour to the elections office with any issues on the ground, Smith said.
The poll watchers do not interact with voters or talk to them about voting preferences, but they are on hand to provide limited information about the process itself, Smith said. They can also provide residents with the voter protection hotline number — 888-730-5816.
As the doors opened at 7 a.m., a poll worker welcomed those in line and said face masks were available for anyone who did not bring one. — Mike Haskey, mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
This story was originally published November 3, 2020 at 7:20 AM.