Georgia election 2026: Early voting lines don’t deter voters: ‘I want to make my community better’

Some voters were seeing lines Friday on the last day of early voting for the 2026 midterms. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Voters shared with Channel 2 Action News what’s keeping them motivated.

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Slow but steady in Bartow

Outside the Allatoona Resource Center early voting location, Channel 2’s Richard Elliot reports it’s been slow but steady.

People say they want to vote now to avoid longer lines on Election Day.

Tati Mora came to the voting location in Bartow County to cast her vote early to avoid the long lines but also because she wanted to make sure her vote counted at a time where she thinks the country is facing a lot of issues.

“Because of the situation of the country, how everything is. I think my vote matters,” Mora said.

Of the 2.5 million Georgians who voted early, more than 22,000 voted in Bartow County. the Georgia Secretary of State’s office said.

The Allatoona Resource Center voting location wasn’t the busiest in the county, but Elliot saw a steady flow of traffic in and out on this final day of early voting.

”Because there’s a lot of stuff that’s been going on and my demographic and my age group are really have to get out there and set the record straight,” said Alaunis Rosario, a Bartow County voter, before she went in to cast her ballot.

She’s as passionate about the issues as she is about voting and voting early.

“I decided to come and vote early, one, just because I knew that it may be a little hectic on the actual voting day, and because I’m really taking this serious,” Rosario said. “I want to make my community better. So I’d rather vote early and knock it out of the park.”

Parking scarce at Cobb early voting site

On the last day of early voting, parking attendants directed traffic as a long line of cars formed outside the Cobb County Elections and Voter Registration Building.

“I am absolutely here to vote early. I do not want to get stuck in all the mess and the traffic,” Lianne Christman said. “I was in line for about 12 minutes.”

“It’s insane, actually inside, they were saying that the line just keeps getting longer and longer,” Christman said. “It’s the most people that they’ve seen since they’ve started the early voting. We need efficiency so everybody can get in and have their chance to voice what their thoughts are and how we can change things for our government for the best.”

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By 3 p.m., the parking lot and overflow lot was at capacity. People waited 10 to 15 minutes to get inside the building.

Channel 2 Cobb County bureau chief Michele Newell also spoke to voters this morning at Collar Park Community Center in Austell.

“I came out here to early vote. Especially the reason I vote is because African Americans had to fight,” Mary Butler said.

“This is way less people than I was expecting to be honest with you,” Mark Stanhope said.

“I find it more convenient now that I’m getting more mature because I don’t want to stand in line,” Butler said.

Cobb County is seeing record-breaking numbers for early voter turnout.

More than 40,000 voters have cast their ballot before Election Day.

A lot on voters’ minds in DeKalb

Over at the Norman Avenue polling place in Kirkwood, the length of the wait has been changing all day long, according to Channel 2’s Tom Regan.

“I want to make sure I get my vote in because it’s such an important election,” Catherine Caldwell said.

Voters say they have a lot on their minds.

“Increase in prices, health care, school systems, this could go on,” said Jayda Newsome.

Evelyn Eingurt is voting for the first time in an election.

“Affordability is a super big issue that I think we need to pay attention to,” she said.

Many voters say they made sure to get to the polls today, to avoid possibly even longer lines on Tuesday. But Ryan Jones said he had no choice.

“I’m actually traveling on Tuesday, so couldn’t go Tuesday. So I had to get here today. And get it done, yeah,” Ryan Jones said.

“It’s important because my votes counts, and I didn’t want to be in the rush November 3,” Anita Brown said.

Kali Caldwell, 21, is voting for second time in an election since she turned 18.

“I really want to see some good candidates in office this year,” Caldwell said. “I think it’s really important.”

Lines grow in Gwinnett

Early voting lines were growing today. In Gwinnett County, it’s been a steady stream of voters moving in and out.

Channel 2 Gwinnett County bureau chief Matt Johnson reports the line at Shorty Howell Park in Duluth Friday afternoon was taking about a half-hour to wait through earlier this afternoon, but the folks we’ve talked to say it’s a small price to pay.

“So this is my first time I see a long line,” Maria Galindez said.

“Didn’t really know, but it doesn’t bother me,” Jim Dugan said. “The weather’s great. So you can’t complain.”

This line moved faster than some in the county, where waits hit an hour at two other sites.

Doors close at 7 p.m., and some voters say their jobs rule out Election Day.

“If I come on the third, I won’t be able to make it because I’ll be getting off at 7:30,” Aaron Catlin said.

The secretary of state’s office says more than 200,000 Gwinnett voters have voted, and this week’s crowds topped last week’s weekday total in four days.

“It’s a little bit longer, but you know, we had to wait,” Galindez said.

Thursday was Gwinnett’s busiest day yet, with more than 18,000 voting in person. More than 9,000 voted in person by midday Friday, over half of Thursday’s count, so the last day could top it.

“And we need more younger people to come out and vote, too,” Catlin said.

The county’s map showed hour-long waits around 3 p.m. at George Pierce park in Suwanee and the Collins Hill Library, but two minutes at Rhodes Jordan Park in Lawrenceville.

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