Election Day seemed to prove conveniently uneventful for Richmond County voters, at least through most of the workday, with few reports of encounters with long lines or cumbersome procedural hiccups.
District 6 voter Dean Gossett said, “For the most part, lines were fine,” when he went to cast his ballot at Bernie Ward Community Center at 1941 Lumpkin Road. “I was in and out in no more than 20 minutes.”
For Christian Dunnum, he said his experience voting at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 3237 ½ Deans Bridge Road, in District 5, went “quite smoothly,” and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to get out and vote.
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Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Rev. Eric Biddy, cast the 53rd ballot Tuesday morning at May Park Community Center, 622 Fourth St., District 1, noting, “There were no lines, and to my knowledge, there were no difficulties.”
Joseph Arrington, an experienced poll worker at May Park, said turnout had been “mildly brisk” and steady throughout most of the day, and estimates a headcount slightly higher than recent election seasons.
He also said that the poll station had “No lines, probably zero wait,” and that staff were able to help voters “basically walk in, and get them in and out of there in about five minutes,” though he did expect crowds to pick up at about 5 p.m., after work hours.
Five minutes is approximately how long it took Treasure Butler to cast her ballot at May Park, an act she found somewhat stressful, but critical.
“I think it’s way worse when you’re an adult, because you understand everything,” said Butler who stressed the importance of voting, particularly amid the current season. “Especially for me as a woman, my autonomy is in government’s hands. So if you didn’t vote—I don’t care who you voted for—but if you didn’t vote and you’re an adult, it’s not okay. It’s intense, don’t get me wrong, but you should always understand what’s going on.”
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Another May Park voter, Naquita Simmons, echoed this sentiment, underscoring the issue of abortion rights.
“I’m just real passionate about women having some clear rights,” said Simmons, who also said that she had been hospitalized for 14 hours amid a miscarriage, due to the six-week abortion ban that went into effect in Georgia after the Supreme Court overturned of Roe v. Wade. “Nobody would touch me because of the abortion ban. So this is very personal for me. I think all women should have a right to their bodies.”
Arrington, who notes that early voting is still preferable, was ultimately grateful to see people exercising their civic duty.
“That brings my heart joy,” he said. “I do believe when they walk out, they’re happy, they’re glad they did it, whoever they voted for. They’re exercising their rights.”
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
