False Bomb Threats Not Interfering With GA Elections: Raffensperger
ATLANTA, GA — Despite some polling locations being targeted by false bomb threats, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said wait times are down on Election Day 2024 in battleground Georgia.
He said the threats, of Russian origin, impacted about seven precincts in various counties. He added the threats did not affect people's ability to vote.
Georgia officials will "push back hard against election interference and election disinformation," Raffensperger said.
Though 4.2 million people were expected to vote Tuesday, Raffensperger said 500,000 have already headed to the polls to make their choices in the 2024 presidential election.
Early Tuesday afternoon, Raffensperger said voters were standing in lines for an average of 1 minute and were taking an average of 49 seconds to check in at the polls.
This was amid delays at two Fulton County precincts due to an unknown nature of threats.
Fulton County Police responded to early morning threats at Etris Community Center and Gullatt Elementary School in Union City, county officials said, adding no active threats were located.
Both Etris and Gullatt closed for a short time due to the threats, county officials said.
Fulton County election officials are planning to request a court order that would permit the two locations to remain open for the duration of the closures. Traditionally, voting ends at 7 p.m. Tuesday, but if a person is in line by 7 p.m., they are allowed to vote.
"Disruption of the voting process is a crime, and individuals found to be making disruptive threats will face charges. We want to assure voters that their safety is our highest priority," county officials said in a news release.
Fulton County has 177 polling locations, all of which will include police presence, county officials said.
In Cobb County, a judge has ordered voting extensions at two precincts due to delayed openings after there were some equipment issues, county officials said.
The locations at Mount Paran Church of God, 1700 Allgood Road NE in Marietta, and Kell High School, 4770 Lee Waters Road in Marietta, will close at 7:20 p.m.
"Voters should be aware that, due to federal races on the ballot, anyone casting a ballot at these precincts during the extended hours will need to vote via a provisional ballot," county officials said.
Raffensperger is expected to share another Election Day update at 2:30 p.m.
