Georgia kicked off early voting with a bang, shattering records set in the 2020 election. By 2 p.m. on the first day, over 187,000 votes were cast, surpassing the 136,000 votes from the same day four years ago. The secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, predicted a strong turnout. The Peach State is crucial in the race for 270 electoral votes. In 2020, Joe Biden won Georgia by just 11,779 votes, making it a battleground state. Polls show a close race between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Both campaigns are pushing for early voting.

Some counties, like Atlanta, favor Harris, while rural areas lean towards Trump. However, experts warn against drawing conclusions from the first day of early voting. Early voting data doesn't show who voters chose or the final electorate. Voting patterns have changed since the pandemic, making comparisons with 2020 difficult. The election is expected to tighten as it gets closer.

The high turnout in Georgia reflects a national trend. A NBC News poll found that 5 percent of registered voters had already cast their ballots, and 47 percent planned to vote early. Early voting has been on the rise since the 2020 election, when officials sought to expand voting access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Georgia Sets Early Voting Records: What Does It Mean?

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