MACON, Ga. — Georgia voters are heading to the polls today to cast their ballots in a number of crucial primary elections, with implications from the Senate on down to local judges.
We're hearing a lot about voting issues early this morning, and we'll be tracking things throughout the day and providing updates as Georgians cast their votes:
BIBB COUNTY
At the Dr. Robert J. Williams Complex at Ballard Hudson polling location on Anthony Road, a voter said poll workers did not have machines set up in time. When he got inside, workers were having trouble setting up the data card and did not have the machines plugged in.
Some folks have said that machines were down at the Northeast Magnet High School polling location. One voter said he got there at 6:45 a.m. until he had to leave for work an hour later and, as far as he knows, no one voted.
Another voter at the high school said he was given the wrong ballot for his district.
At Mabel White Baptist Church on Bass Road, voters say they waited in line for about 30 minutes before voting.
One voter warned folks to check their ballot if they're voting at Macon Evangelistic Church on Hartley Bridge Road. He says some people have gotten the wrong ballot for their district and the machines were down there as well.
Around 11:30 a.m., Susan Wade said around 50 ballots were jammed up into the scanner. While waiting on technical support, staff stacked ballots up next to it and said they’d scan the pile once the scanner got fixed.
At Lizella Baptist Church, a voter said the voting machines were not working working and voters were being given provisional ballots. That was around 8:30 a.m.
At noon, another viewer said the Lizella polling station was back up and running. He says he was in-and-out in 10 minutes.
JONES COUNTY
One voter said the poll location at the Jones County Fire Station on Highway 49 only let in two people after they opened at 7 a.m., and those people had been inside for over 30 minutes.
We are continuing to get reports of issues at polling places, with viewers sending us messages about voting failures from across Central Georgia.
We've heard in at least one instance of a polling site turning to paper ballots.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office has issued a statement saying there isn't any technical issue with new voting machines, but that "we have reports of poll workers not understanding setup or how to operate voting equipment."
"While these are unfortunate, they are not issues of the equipment but a function of counties engaging in poor planning, limited training, and failures of leadership. Well over 2,000 precincts are functioning normally throughout the state of Georgia," he said.
We're working to confirm these issues, which in most cases viewers have said they're being told are with the voting machines.
Georgia House Speaker David Ralston is calling for an investigation into irregularities in today's primary voting. A statement said he had directed House Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Shaw Blackmon to lead the investigation.
Speaker Ralston issued this statement around 12:30 p.m.:
“The sanctity of our elections – being free and fair – is the very foundation of our system of government. Our elections must be efficient and voters must be confident that their votes will be properly counted.
“We are hearing anecdotes from around the state – particularly in Fulton County – this morning of unacceptable deficiencies: poll workers not being properly trained, voting equipment not working and absentee ballots not being received among other issues. Our poll workers give of their time to serve Georgians, and they do not deserve to be blamed for systemic problems beyond their control.
“The legislative branch of government has an obligation to go beyond the mutual finger-pointing and get to the truth and the real reasons underlying these frustrations and concerns.
“I have directed Chairman Blackmon and our House Governmental Affairs Committee to investigate today’s primary elections process and recommend changes – legislative or administrative – to correct these issues and prevent future problems.”
If you are experiencing an issue at your polling place, send us an email with your name and description of the problem to news@13wmaz.com
Central Georgia polling stations
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