Georgians around the state head to the polls on the first day of early voting

Early voting is underway in Georgia. A limited number of polls in every county opened on Tuesday morning for voters who want to cast their ballot before Nov. 3.

So what motivates people to vote at their first opportunity? 

GPB reporters Grant Blankenship, Chase McGee, and Sarah Kallis talked to voters to find out. 

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I’m Grant Blankenship. 

The Elaine Lucas Senior Center is one of three early voting sites in Macon-Bibb County. 

There, Carol Stokes and her mother Betty were among the first to cast ballots. 

Carol had many reasons for voting early. 

“We’re talking health care, we’re talking housing, we are talking the cost of living,” she said. “We’re talking everything, quite frankly, and there have been diminishing for far too many people. It’s hard to name just one or a few because the problem is the government that we have in place across the board seems to be only focused on a select few.”

“We have an issue with remembering and knowing what democracy is,” she said. “To me, it boils down to a humanitarian issue.”

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I’m Chase McGee.

In Athens-Clarke County, early voting began at 8 a.m. at the Board of Elections office in downtown Athens.

Samantha and Brian Ruggieri were there first thing in the morning, with a kid on fall break from school in tow.

They said their experience couldn’t have gone smoother.

“Quick and easy, no line in front of us,” Brian said. “We just kind of got in, got out.”

Brian said he was especially motivated to vote by two ballot items on sales tax. 

One would reduce property taxes by raising the local sales tax from 8% to 9%, and another would continue a sales tax to support education.

“Less helping out the small guys and more helping out the big guys, I think that’s what really motivated me about the tax votes,” Brian said.

Samantha Ruggieri said there’s no point in waiting until Election Day to vote. 

“I think everybody’s always scared that you’re going to have to wait in a giant line to do it,” she said. “And even if you do, like, you know, it’s just part of it. But this was super easy, and I think the earlier you get out and secure your vote, the better.”

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And I’m Sarah Kallis. 

In DeKalb County, at a county services building near Atlanta, a steady stream of voters filed into a polling place. Morgan Williams came to the polls to vote for relief from the high cost of living. 

“It’s time for change. It’s definitely time for change,” he said. “Gas prices are crazy. Gas prices are crazy and groceries are crazy, prices just are up. It’s just too much.”

Glenda Brown showed up to the same poll, also looking for change, and for political leaders to listen to citizens.

“I want change; I don’t want a politician who wants a job or a check,” she said. “I want them to know the heart of the people, people looking for hope again.”

Other voters, like Zack Kimble who voted at the Bessie Branham Recreation Center, wanted to send a message to a political leader who’s not on the ballot.

“I’m voting against Donald Trump,” he said. “That’s pretty much it. I’m completely dissatisfied with Trump and I want to send a message.”

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