Georgia’s election problems blasted as Nov. vote looms

ATLANTA — Georgia’s messy election day once again put the state’s voting struggles in the national spotlight, highlighting the need for improvements before a high-turnout presidential election in November.

Several voting rights groups summed up the election in one word: unacceptable.

After months of postponements and preparations, the election was marred by long lines, technical difficulties and voter confusion. Some voters waited more than five hours before finally casting their ballots after midnight at one precinct, a church in Union City south of Atlanta.

The problems resulted in finger-pointing and investigations but few concrete solutions before runoffs Aug. 11 and the general election Nov. 3. State and county election officials said they would improve poll worker training and consider adding voting precincts.

Challenges facing voters, especially those in heavily African American neighborhoods, led to accusations of voter suppression.

“Georgia’s election was a complete catastrophe,” said Kristen Clarke, the president of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a Washingtonbased civil rights organization. “If we view the primary election as a dry run for November, then Georgia gets an F.”

While some lines on election day were expected because of social distancing requirements during the coronavirus, no one predicted the extent of difficulties facing voters Tuesday, especially in DeKalb and Fulton counties. There were warning signs, however, such as precinct closures, poll worker shortages and absentee ballots that never reached voters’ mailboxes.

Poll workers couldn’t get the state’s new voting equipment working. Voting machines were delivered after polls opened in some precincts in Fulton and Gwinnett counties. Precincts closed because of the coronavirus, some shortly before election day, forcing voters into fewer voting locations.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger also said it was unacceptable for voters to wait in hourslong lines that wrapped around buildings. He said he’ll review what could be done better and what additional training is needed.

“I will continue to work with our county elections boards and directors to train them to properly deliver, install and maintain our voting system,” said Raffensperger, a Republican who took office last year. “It is clear that some counties continue to not perform. It is the responsibility of the counties to properly deliver and install equipment. It is the responsibility of the counties to properly train its poll workers.”

Raffensperger said counties are in charge of running elections, but he faced criticism for not doing more to help them prepare for a difficult primary.