Live Updates: Macon election board expects Election Day turnout to exceed 2016 totals
Bibb County’s 31 polling places opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. Anyone in line at that time will be 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.
To share photos, ask questions and report voting issues, email breaking@macon.com.
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.
Looking for last-minute resources? Check out some of these links:
- List of candidates and polling places
- Voting guidelines for people with COVID-19 or in quarantine
- Bibb County Sheriff candidate Q&A
- Houston County District Attorney Q&A
- Macon Telegraph voter’s guide
Macon voters discuss motivation as they leave polls
The Telegraph spoke to Macon voters at a polling spot on Anthony Road. We asked what one thing most motivated them to cast their ballots in the presidential election. Here’s what they had to say:
Carolyn Collier, 70, of Macon, retired aircraft sheet metal mechanic:
“When have we ever boarded up businesses because of an election? Those type things are really out of the norm. And the type of harassment people are having to put up with just for your opinion, it just seems to me extreme. ... We want our normalcy. ...
“We want our laws to work, our systems to work and everything to work in its own respective place, not one person running everything. Because it’s out of balance. ... We just need order. ... (Trump) is destroying the fabric of our country.”
Willie Walls, 55, Bibb County teacher:
“The sheer notion of having leadership that represents everybody. True leadership, taking into account everybody, no matter what their socioeconomic level is.
“And that’s really my main (vote-motivating) thing. Sometimes I think when a person is very, very affluent, they’re not used to the average Joe. They don’t know the average Joe really. They don’t know the average Joe’s struggles.”
Sara Walton, 50, originally from Nicaragua, on what compelled her to cast her first vote as a Georgian:
“I moved to Georgia a year ago, coming from New York. In New York, we’re Democrats, right? ... My family, they were like pressing me: ‘It’s important for you to go and vote today more than ever. We need to see changes.’
“I think now more than ever you are scared of things. For me personally, with the current president, I did not like the handling — me being someone from another country — the handling of how he treats foreign people, foreigners in this country. I think that is the biggest force that made me come out. This country is built on the blood of slaves, people who came from abroad.” – Joe Kovac Jr., jkovac@macon.com
Bibb County on pace for strong turnout
Bibb County election board chair Mike Kaplan visited precincts this morning, joking that “things are going a little too smooth... knock on wood.” Kaplan expects some 30,000 ballots to be cast today, exceeding the 2016 total and giving Bibb County close to 80,000 votes, when combined with early votes and absentee ballots.
Middle Georgia religious leaders call for unity, peace
Religious leaders across Middle Georgia are praying for a peaceful Election Day and comforting anxious congregations.
“It is my big hope and prayer that we are able to use our voices. But more than that, we are in a period of tremendous pain and division as a society that as a nation,” Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Temple Beth Israel in Macon said. “And it’s my hope and prayer, not for today, but really for Nov. 4 and forward, that we’re able to come back together. And be once again, the United States of America, that we treat each other with compassion as we go through this horrendous pandemic, and that we ourselves have a vision for our collective future.”
First Baptist Church Senior Pastor Scott Dickinson said he hoped that Christians’ politics would reflect “our deepest convictions,” to “Love God and love our neighbor.”
“I hope that everything goes peacefully that everyone who comes to the polls is able to do so without intimidation, can cast their vote peacefully, and of course, without any violence,” he said. “And, you know, I think it’s just very disappointing that we’re even having to say such things, and kind of speaks to the brokenness of where we are right now, as a country.
“I think that things are going to go much more smoothly than people probably anticipate, but it’s good that we’re prepared, of course.”
Mercer University Minister and Dean of Chapel Dr. Craig T. McMahan called Election Day “a treasured part of the American experiment in democracy.”
“ I am most concerned that we hang on to the foundational principles of our democracy, and have a free and fair election, and then abide by those results,” he said. “I believe that we are capable of handling whatever the outcome of the election may be, if we are willing to proceed within the confines of our democratic principles. I think the election has been an increasingly polarizing part of our national life for too long. And I’m hopeful that we can find a way to come together as a nation after this, in which all people are valued and protected, and that we become a respected player on the world stage yet again.”
Father Ben R. Wells of St. Francis Episcopal Church said that “deep divisions” in American society have to be healed, regardless of who wins.
“As people of faith, God calls us to be of one mind in serving God and God’s kingdom,” he said. “We can not continue in hate and distrust of each other. We can start healing if we all don’t have to be right on every subject or prove someone else wrong.” – Zoe Katz, Election SOS fellow
Light lunch time voting
Lines in Bibb and Houston counties were short or non-existent during the noon hour, and the few early morning technical issues that delayed some voters had been resolved.
A final surge is expected after many Georgians get off work at 5 p.m., but record early voting totals appear to have put a dent in Election Day turnout.
Telegraph reporter Becky Purser, reporting from the Warner Robins Recreation Center polling location, spoke with several voters during the lunch hour.
Helen Weldon emerged from the recreation center wearing a mask and top that read, “Black Lives Matter.”
“I think we should change presidents,” said Waldon, who said she could not find any redeeming qualities in Trump.
Social Security, racial injustice and Supreme Court decisions were important to Chavis Hurst when he cast his ballot.
“I’m just picking between the lesser of two evils,” Hurst said.
Patty Norwood was concerned about division within the country.
“Everybody needs to come together and stop this bickering,” Norwood said. “We’re supposed to be the United States. We’re not just one person.”
She said she’s also concerned about a push to reverse Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion nationwide.
“I think women should have the right to decide what’s best for them - not the government,” Norwood said.
Peach a “bellwether” county
The AJC is telling Georgians to keep an eye on how Peach County votes. That because the county has been a good indicator for presidential election winners.
“The county’s voters have picked the eventual presidential winner in just about every election since 1992, swinging from Barack Obama to Donald Trump in the past two races. The exception was 2000, when Al Gore captured Peach County by a scant 15 ballots, mirroring the razor-thin national vote,” writes Greg Bluestein.
Polling machines down for 30 minutes at Houston County Annex
Voters lined up before 6 a.m. outside of the Houston County Annex to vote, and polls opened on time at 7 a.m. But around 7:30 a.m., a poll worker came out of the annex and told people in line that voting machines were down, and they were working with the board of elections to fix the issue. At 8 a.m., the line began moving again.
Howard Barrere, who was the first in line to vote at 5:45 a.m., exited at 7:58 a.m. after the delay. Sheila Hart, second in line, said that the first three voters, when they inserted the card they had been assigned into their voting machines, received an error message. The poll workers stopped everything and called the board of elections. Machines were updated and restarted and then voters were able to cast ballots.
According to the Houston County Board of Elections, the issue only affected the annex, which will now be open until 7:40 p.m. – Becky Purser, bpurser@macon.com.
Jones County voting delays
According to Jones County Chief Registrar Sydney Higley, several polling places experienced technical difficulties that delayed voting. One delay lasted just under an hour. Polling places that were delayed will stay open later to make up for the delay. Higley said a tech is visiting polling places to resolve the issue. She was unable to immediately confirm which precincts had been delayed. – Caleb Slinkard, cslinkard@macon.com
Police presence at polling locations
Bibb County Sheriff’s deputies were in squad cars at Bibb County polling locations, far removed from the lines. Middle Georgia sheriffs told the Telegraph yesterday that they don’t anticipate unrest or violence following the results of Tuesday’s election.
Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman said he foresees no problems in his county to the north of Macon.
“I’ve heard nothing, and members of my staff that I talk to every day haven’t heard anything good, bad or indifferent,” Freeman said.
Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton echoed the sentiments of his fellow lawmen.
He mentioned the peaceful demonstrations here earlier this year.
“I think the largest cities are where you might have the biggest problems, like New York, Portland” and other places, Talton said. “But I think everything’s gonna be fine here.” – Joe Kovac Jr., jkovac@macon.com
Bibb County voters show up as early as 5 a.m.
At the Dr. Robert J. Williams Complex on Anthony Road, voters were on site several hours before polls opened. Many stayed in their cars to stay warm. Voters began lining up around 6:30 p.m. Those interviewed expressed concerns about chaos, their fatigue with calls from campaigns and their desire for the election to be over. – Lars Lonnroth, Center for Collaborative Journalism.
Houston County voters discuss what inspired them to vote early Tuesday
David Flanders and his daughter, Kalyn, were in line together early Tuesday morning. It was Kalyn’s first presidential election.
David said he was voting for Joe Biden.
“The Presidential election is always important, it’s going to have an influence on national spending, police funding and the way that police and the community interact. The President of the United States should be a statesman, he should be honorable, he should have a certain demeanor and represent all people, not a small fraction.”
Tommy Brown, 73, arrived at the polls early Tuesday masked and with a coffee cup in hand. He planned to vote the GOP ticket. His key issues were job creation, health care and care for senior citizens like himself. Brown said he thinks Trump has been a good president.
“He’s opened up a lot of jobs,” Brown said. “We have a lot of new possibilities with trade agreements. All you have to do is look at all the construction going on ... We’re probably in a rebuilding phase.”
Sisters Megan Vaughn, 26 and Leisa Vaughn, 33, were line to vote early Tuesday. They dropped out of the line to vote at the Houston County Annex when a poll worker announced that the machines were down about 7:30 a.m. but said they would be back.
Asked how they planned to vote “Blue all the way,” they said. Leisa said the key issue was the how pandemic was handled Megan said her key issues were voting rights, civil rights and and women’s rights. – Becky Purser, bpurser@macon.com.
Polls open in Macon
Bibb County voters lined up as polling places opened at 7 a.m., shivering a little in the early morning chill. Lines were short across the county. In north Macon, at Northminster Presbyterian Church, voters said concerns about long lines after 5 p.m. drove them to vote early.
“I thought the lines would be longer, so I came to vote early. I’m surprised and impressed with how quickly it went,” Edwin Iwo said. “I always vote. It’s our civic responsibility.”
Davy Morgan, an office manager in Macon, was wearing a T-shirt with a cross in an American flag. He said he takes Election Day off to vote and then stay on top of results. He said one of the machines that produces cards for voters to insert into polling pads was malfunctioning, but everything else was working smoothly. – Caleb Slinkard, cslinkard@macon.com
This story was originally published November 3, 2020 at 8:04 AM.
