Georgia's early turnout breaks records but hurdles grow for Harris

Washington DC — Georgia's voters are showing up in force, with nearly a million early ballots cast in just three days.

State officials celebrated the record on social media. Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, posted on X, "Great job, Georgia!"

"1 million voters have cast their ballots early," Raffensperger wrote on Friday.

By Friday evening nearly 1.2 million ballots had been cast, accounting for 16.7 percent of the swing state's active voters.

With big numbers already tallied, there is a signal that Georgia's role in shaping America's political future is anything but ordinary.

However, beneath this wave of enthusiasm and hope runs an undercurrent of frustration.

Some of that frustration became clear earlier this year during the Democratic primary.

With Georgia's ballot lacking an "uncommitted" option, pro-Palestine organisers in the state encouraged voters to participate by submitting ballots but leaving them blank — a symbolic protest against the Biden administration's stance on Gaza.

Nearly 6,500 voters followed that call, while 9,000 others cast ballots for long-shot candidate Marianne Williamson, drawn by her support for a ceasefire.

Together, these protest votes totalled more than 15,000 — outnumbering Biden's razor-thin 2020 victory margin in Georgia, which was just 12,000 votes.

Now, as Vice President Kamala Harris fights to rally the base, concerns are growing that the same frustration could cost Democrats in this crucial swing state.

"If Harris hopes to carry the state, she'll have to do more than show up — she'll need to listen, really listen, to the issues people care about," Jason Carter, an election analyst based in Georgia, told TRT World.

At polling stations across the state, long lines formed early — a sign of high voter engagement despite weather disruptions and lingering uncertainties.

Trump pulls ahead

Cobb County resident Lynnette Wilson told TRT World over the phone that she waited for two hours to cast her vote.

"This election isn't just about choosing between two people," she said. "It's about saying we're still here, still fighting."

That feeling of being overlooked is palpable among many voters, especially within Georgia's diverse communities.

Biden administration's handling of major global conflicts like Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has alienated some groups, particularly Arab Americans, whose support could prove decisive.

"We voted Democrat in the hope for change," Wilson, a registered Democrat, said. "And while it hasn't been perfect, there's still a chance to push things in the right direction."

US poll site FiveThirtyEight reported that former president Trump maintains a narrow lead of 2.2 points over his Democratic opponent in Georgia, reflecting a tightly contested race that could sway in either direction.

This makes Harris' path to victory in the Peach State more complicated. While early turnout is promising — historically a good sign for Democrats — the high numbers don’t necessarily indicate satisfaction.

"Engagement isn't the same as enthusiasm," Carter noted.

"Some of the counties here like Towns, which registered a very high number of early votes this time were won by Trump in 2020."

'Voting to be heard'

Adding to the uncertainty, a controversial rule requiring hand-counted ballots in Georgia was temporarily blocked by a judge hours before early voting began.

Many feared that the rule if implemented, would have delayed results and created chaos in a state already under intense scrutiny.

For many in Georgia, the stakes couldn't be higher.

"If we don't send a message now, the Democrats might think we're fine with the way things are," Jamal Al Taher, a community organiser in Atlanta, told TRT World.

"We need action, not just promises."

Early voting in the state runs through November 1, with the countdown to the November 5 finale building tension by the day.

"Georgia is voting to be heard," Wilson said.