Georgia Legislators, Federal Officials Press on Gov. Perdue to Extend Early Polling Hours in Metro Atlanta

From Ballotpedia

November 1, 2008

First Coast News-ATLANTA-Georgia legislators and federal election officials close to the State of Georgia are pressing on Governor Sonny Perdue (R-GA) to extend early polling hours as record turnout has forced long lines in the Metro Atlanta region^[1].

Despite the Least Restrictive Early Voting Laws in the Nation, Long Lines Still Loom on last Day of Early Voting

Due to historically heavy turnout and problems at polling places in Metro Atlanta have pressed local state and federal lawmakers to urge Governor Sonny Perdue to extend early voting through Monday. Advance voting ended at 7:00 PM Eastern Time on Friday night^[1].

Governor Perdue Defends Early Voting Laws

"With 45 days of early voting Georgia has one of the most liberal ballot access laws in the country, 45 days, it's up to counties to determine how many venues they have," says Georgia Gov. Perdue. "It may be like the Olympics when we said don't drive downtown, don't drive downtown and that was the best time to drive downtown during the Olympics, Tuesday may be a great day to vote." It is unlikely that Georgia will extend early voting as early voting started on September 22nd and by the final deadline over 1.8 million people which consists of 31 percent of eligible voters had voted^[1].