Georgia Election Day Marked by Extended Voting Hours Due to Bomb Threats and Equipment Issues

On Election Day in Georgia, several precincts in metro Atlanta were forced to extend their voting hours due to unfounded bomb threats and issues with voting equipment. According to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, emailed bomb threats were received by precincts in Fulton and Gwinnett counties, leading to temporary evacuations.

In Fulton County, five polling locations were granted extended voting hours by the Fulton County Superior Court. These locations include Lake Forest Elementary School, C.H. Gullatt Elementary School, Southwest Arts Center, Etris Darnell Community Center, and Northwood Elementary School, with closing times ranging from 7:10 p.m. to 7:45 p.m..

In Gwinnett County, the Mountain Park polling locations were evacuated at 12:30 p.m. and reopened about an hour later. As a result, Precincts 52 and 112 at the Mountain Park Activity Center will remain open until 7:58 p.m..

Cobb County also saw extended voting hours at two precincts in the Marietta area. Voters at Mount Paran Church of God and Kell High School will have until 7:20 p.m. to cast their ballots, as these polling places opened 20 minutes late.

These extensions are in line with Georgia law, which allows poll hours to be extended by the amount of time lost due to closures and delays. The disruptions did not significantly impact the overall voting process, with Georgia seeing a record voter turnout of over 5.2 million people in the general election).