Live updates: Polls open in Columbus. Here’s how voting is going, what to know
Editor’s note: This story is no longer being updated.
Polls open in Georgia today at 7 a.m. as Muscogee County voters make their choices for the presidential election, U.S. Congress, and state and local races.
Two Georgia congressional races are on ballots in the Columbus area, including District 2, in which Republican nominee Wayne Johnson challenges incumbent U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop. There’s also a state Senate seat and two state House seats on the ballot locally.
The races for Muscogee County Sheriff and District Attorney are also featured on the ballot.
Check here for more information on the candidates and races.
More than half of registered Georgia voters turned out during early voting, according to Georgia Secretary of State Ben Raffensperger.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Georgia.
Residents headed to the polls can check on the rules governing election day, including photography and electioneering, which could result in individuals being turned away if they are broken.
Registered voters can go to their designated polling precinct. If residents are unsure where their precinct is, they can check here or contact the Muscogee County Elections and Registration Office at 706-653-4392 for more information.
Voters will be asked to show their photo IDs to poll workers to verify they’re registered and at the correct polling location, and individuals who haven’t met all requirements may request a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots will be counted as long as eligible issues are resolved within three days.
If individuals encounter problems at the polls they’re asked to contact the Muscogee County Elections Office or the Georgia secretary of state.
More bomb threats in GA, some polling places open later
5:45 p.m.- Four other polling locations were impacted by bomb threats later Tuesday, in addition to the two locations evacuated this morning. Two of those locations were in Fulton County, while one was in Gwinnett County and one was in Clayton County.
Law enforcement received word that two polling locations were going to receive bomb threats in Fulton County. They evacuated the locations for about half an hour while they investigated the threats and swept the locations, but found no danger.
A polling location in Gwinnett County and a location in Clayton County also received threats and had to close temporarily.
The Fulton and Gwinnett polling locations were granted court orders to stay open beyond the statewide 7 p.m. closing time.
Federal and local officials said the threats are not credible and they believe Russia is behind them.
Steady traffic at Columbus precincts
4:45 p.m. - An experienced poll worker in Muscogee County said Tuesday that the elections workers in Columbus were operating as a “well-greased machine,” and the voting process was proving smooth.
When will we know how Georgia voted?
3:30 p.m. - Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Tuesday that Georgia will “get a good idea of what the race looks like ... by the end of the night.” Raffensperger said the vast majority of votes will be tabulated on Tuesday.
Little to no line at this precinct early afternoon
2:40 p.m. - There was little to no line at the Salvation Army Church in the early afternoon hours, but voters were steadily turning out at the precinct.
When polls opened this morning there was a line of people hoping to vote before going to work, precinct manager Gwendolyn Davis told the Ledger-Enquirer.
But as the day progressed, the traffic to the precinct grew and waned.
Things have changed since early voting began more popular, poll worker Carl Hamilton said.
“A lot of people vote early,” he said. “So, it’s not been a constant bombardment.”
They haven’t encountered any issues throughout the day.
Increased demand for rides to the polls
1:30 p.m. - The Urban League of the River Valley has helped provide rides to the polls for more people today than they have in the 10 years the organization has provided the service, said Tracey Mosley, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Columbus.
As of noon, the local Urban League chapter helped gave over 50 rides to the polls, he said.
“(We’ve helped) someone in their 30s all the way up to someone in their 80s,” Mosley said. “It’s a real mix of folks that have requested (rides).”
The Urban League in Columbus is 53 years old, he said, and civic engagement is one of the organization’s cornerstones.
It’s taking about an hour or less to get individuals a ride after they request.People needing a ride to their poll can call 706-322-6840 to make a request. Mosley recommends they try to make their request before 5 p.m., but he said the local Urban League chapter plans to help for as long as needed.
“We’re nonpartisan,” Mosley said. “We don’t care about who you vote for. We can’t tell you who to vote for, but we want to make sure that everybody practices their civic rights and let them know what their civic rights are.”
DJs at the Polls in Columbus
12:30 p.m. - Voters in Muscogee County might hear music from local DJs as they head into their precincts today, courtesy of the national organization DJs at the Polls.
JShaun Sutton, known as DJ Remnant, is a local DJ and pastor at Miracles of Christ International Outreach Ministries on Cusseta Road. Sutton was playing music at the precinct at Columbus Technical College and plans to be there until 1:30 p.m. before moving on to another precinct.
“We’re inspiring people to get out and vote,” Sutton said. “And while you vote, we as DJs relieve the stress and pressure.”
Music can make people feel different emotions, he said, and DJs at the Polls hopes to make voters feel happy while they’re voting, no matter their political party.
So far, he’s seen a good response from voters who’ve heard the music.
“And I do take requests,” Sutton said.
District Attorney candidate hits the streets
11 a.m. - Don Kelly, who is acting district attorney for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District and on the ballot to stay in office, was out waving at traffic on Macon Road across from Synovus Bank branch near the Columbus Public Library precinct.
This is the third location he’s visited today, Kelly told the Ledger-Enquirer. He hopes to encourage people to vote.
Kelly, the Republican nominee, feels optimistic about his chances against Democratic challenger Anthony Johnson in today’s election and believes his experience in the office for the past year is beneficial.
The region needs someone who has experience prosecuting and running the district attorney’s office, he said. Since he’s been running the office after former district attorneyStacey Jackson got sick and died, Kelly is proud of the work they’ve done getting convictions in recent murder trials.
“I never planned on running for DA,” Kelly said. “And then Stacey passed away . . . I stepped up, and that was because I thought it was important.”
Volunteers canvassing outside precinct
9:10 a.m. - Volunteers holding campaign signs for Harris and Sheriff Greg Countryman were outside the Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center this morning.
One volunteer, Gordon Trounson, is a retired military officer from Boise, Idaho. He arrived to Columbus on Oct. 23 as a volunteer for the Harris campaign.
His time in Georgia has been “absolutely great”, Trounson told the Ledger-Enquirer. He’s had good interactions with people in both major political parties during his time here, he said.
Many of the voters supporting Harris he’s encountered in Columbus have cited Trump’s character as a key factor in their decision.
Less than half the state has yet to vote
9 a.m. - Things may run more smoothly Tuesday at polling places Tuesday because a record-setting number of registered voters in Georgia cast their ballot early — about 4 million of them in total.
“This was the most successful early-voting period in Georgia history because voters trust the process,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said about the record. “Four years of progress brought us here. We’re battle-tested and ready.”
Line moving steadily at this Columbus polling place
7:55 a.m. - The line to vote has been moving steadily at the Chattahoochee Valley Church of Christ, Columbus native Sonja Wilburn told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Wilburn is a regular voter and arrived at the church today around 7:30 a.m. and was able to finish voting in about 20 minutes.
“They’re organized in there,” she said. “They have a lot of people in there who are helping and showing (us what to do).”
Polls are open in Columbus, Georgia
7 a.m. - Polls have opened across Georgia as the state will spend the next 12 hours casting ballots to determine key local, state and federal races, including the presidency.
This is a developing story and will be updated. Stay tuned to ledger-enquirer.com for more election information this week.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
