In a heated final push before Election Day, both the Harris and Trump campaigns find reasons for optimism as Georgia sees record-breaking early voting turnout. With just over 4 million ballots cast during the early voting period, Georgia’s 2024 numbers could surpass even the historic turnout of 2020. This surge includes substantial participation from young, first-time voters and a mix of support across both rural and urban areas, setting up the Peach State as a crucial battleground once again.
Morehouse College Students Mobilize to Vote in Large Numbers
At Morehouse College in Atlanta, student activism shined as nearly 100 students marched to a polling station in the final days of early voting. Rollin Jackson Jr., president of Morehouse’s student government, led the march, rallying students to exercise their right to vote, regardless of political leanings. Many were first-time voters, eager to counteract any narrative of apathy among Black and youth voters.
Jackson encouraged his peers with a message of civic responsibility. “Your vote matters. Your voice matters. Even if you don’t agree 100%, make your vote heard,” he said, emphasizing the importance of young Black voters in this election.
For 19-year-old Christopher Lambry, a Harris supporter, the march was an opportunity to show his support for change and to demonstrate the engagement of young voters. “I think young people are energetic about this election,” Lambry said, noting that Democratic outreach had resonated with him and his cousin, Dohnoven Dixon. Despite Harris’s lower-than-expected support among Black men, they expressed optimism about the impact of their votes.
Economic Issues Draw Some Black Voters to Trump
While the Harris campaign works to secure the loyalty of Black male voters, Trump’s team is actively courting them, focusing on economic issues as a key selling point. Marques Moore, an Atlanta rideshare driver, said he cast his early vote for Trump due to concerns over immigration and economic growth. For Moore, his decision reflects a generational shift as Black voters evaluate their long-standing support for the Democratic Party. He hopes a Trump win will push Democrats to present stronger policies directed at Black men.
Some Black men, like Dixon, argue that this election goes beyond economic concerns. Dixon pointed to issues like Project 2025, a conservative transition plan Trump has distanced himself from but which some view as a potential influence on future policies. “Money is not the most important thing, especially not for this election,” Dixon said, urging voters to consider broader social issues.
Record-Breaking Early Voting Numbers Signal High Interest Across Demographics
The end of Georgia’s three-week early voting period saw a turnout of over 4 million ballots, representing 55% of Georgia’s 7.2 million active voters. The surge surpasses the early turnout in 2020, when pandemic-era absentee voting drove high numbers. Of those ballots, 3.7 million were cast in person, with another 240,000 by mail. According to officials, an Election Day turnout of 1 million would set a new record.
In terms of county performance, 92 of Georgia’s 159 counties saw turnout above 50%. Rural Republican-leaning counties like Towns, Oconee, and Dawson led in participation, though populous metro counties such as Fulton, Cobb, and DeKalb—Democratic strongholds—also showed above-average turnout.
Both Campaigns Rally Support in Georgia, Expecting High Election Day Turnout
As Election Day looms, both candidates made their final appeals in Georgia, hoping to sway any remaining undecided voters. Trump holds a narrow polling edge in the state, but turnout numbers from Democratic-heavy areas give the Harris campaign hope. Notably, women account for about 56% of the early voters, which could favor Harris, given her strong support among women voters.
Trump, who previously discouraged early voting, actively encouraged his supporters to cast ballots early this time. Rally signs in Duluth last month even directed supporters to “go vote now,” a shift reflecting Republicans’ growing comfort with early voting.
Jason Shepherd, a political science professor at Kennesaw State University, remarked that while early Republican turnout is strong, it remains uncertain whether this represents new voter engagement or simply a reshuffling of existing voters. “We won’t know until after Election Day how many new voters Republicans have or if they’ve managed to increase their margins,” he noted.
With the final count still pending, both campaigns remain hopeful as Georgia’s record-breaking early turnout hints at a close race. Whether these high early voting numbers favor Harris or Trump will soon be revealed, but for now, Georgia’s role as a pivotal battleground remains undisputed.
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