Georgia's First Day of Early Voting Was a Massive One

If Georgia's kickoff to the midterms is any hint of what's to come, the US may see voting records smashed in the 2022 election. Monday was the first day of early voting in the Peach State, and 131,318 locals came out to cast their in-person ballots—nearly doubling the 70,849 in-person ballots cast in the 2018 midterms, reports the Hill. Monday's intake also came close to the 136,739 votes cast on the first day of early voting in Georgia in the 2020 presidential election.

The office of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger notes that 11,759 absentee ballots were also logged Monday, bringing the day's total vote to 143,077, per CNBC. The high turnout comes in a state that observers are watching closely, with GOP Gov. Brian Kemp facing off against Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams, and Dem Sen. Raphael Warnock defending his seat against Republican Herschel Walker—the latter of which could help determine control of the Senate.

Although Raffensperger noted "reports of long lines were minimal," he conceded that in a "few popular voting locations," voters waited for their chance to cast a ballot for a half-hour or more, per CNN. The outlet notes that civil rights activists are keeping tabs on this election, as it's the first one held under more restrictive guidelines, including shutting down early-voting polling sites on the weekend and Monday before Election Day. Early voting will be open in Georgia through Friday, Nov. 4. (More Georgia stories.)