ATLANTA -- It was a night punctuated by long lines and tight races. Now, 11Alive is talking directly with election directors in metro Atlanta to find out what slowed down voting at some precincts.
Voters in Atlanta and surrounding counties reported significant delays at polling locations across the area. Some of those delays were so severe that voters were given extra minutes - or hours - to cast their ballots.
Nationally-watched races, like the one for governor, attracted many eyes to Georgia's elections and brought many more voters to the polls. So, when problems arose, the world was watching.
"It was like a hurricane," Lynn Ledford said.
Ledford is Gwinnett County's elections director. A judge ordered three of her polling locations to stay open late after a temporary computer glitch froze the loading of voter information onto ballot cards.
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"We received a report at 10:30, he still had people standing in line," Ledford said.
In Fulton County, a judge also ordered three polling locations to stay open late - but for different reasons. They included Pittman Recreation Center, which initially opened with only three voter machines.
"We should have had eight there upon opening," Fulton County Elections Director Richard Barron said. "We did get the rest of the units there - the additional five by 11."
A judge's order ultimately extended voting times at three locations, Pittman and Archer Hall to 9 p.m. and Booker T. Washington High School until 10 p.m. That meant frustrated voters who left were able to come back and give the process a second chance.
Barron said this election was one of the most intense he had ever been involved in. He's been involved in the voting process since 1999.
Georgia voters stand in long lines to cast ballots
DeKalb's elections director said they were prepared.
"This was comparable to, almost, the 2008 presidential election," Erica Hamilton said.
She said they had 19,000 absentee ballots to count - a large number - but said that they're working to make sure those votes are vetted and included if possible.
"If you're an eligible voter, and you cast a provisional ballot and we find out you were eligible to vote in DeKalb County, your provisional ballot will count," Hamilton said.
Those who had citizenship issues or problems with their identification have until Friday to turn that information in.
