Georgia voters hit the polls early to vote in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The battleground state saw an unprecedented turnout for early voting in 92 counties, including Athens-Clarke County.

Athens-Clarke County provided six locations for advanced voting. Athens historically leans left in presidential elections, seeing a 70.13% voter rate for Biden-Harris in 2020. Voters at the Lyndon House Arts Center reflected this precedent. 

Here’s what Athens voters have to say about early voting, their policy priorities and their preferred candidate. 

Samantha Mattox

Age: 55

Occupation: Acquired cataloging specialist at the UGA Main Library

Voted for: Harris-Walz

Why she voted early: “Well, because they changed my polling place, and it was much further away and not convenient. I was going to just wait till Election Day and but since it wouldn’t be on my way home or on my way to work, I thought, ‘I’m right here, right next to campus, I’ll just go ahead and do it today,’ and I’m glad I did, because there’s no lines at all.”

If she was nervous about the outcome of Election Day: “Yes, because it’s very close, I feel like even now. I don’t think it should be, but it is. So yeah, I’ll be very nervous.”

Nadia El-Shamin and Paulina Hafer 

Age: 23 

Occupation: Construction workers

Voted for: Harris-Walz

Her priorities when choosing a candidate: “I think it’s just important for women to have rights, and I think it’s important that we do our part to keep the country safe and a good place for everybody to feel like they belong here.”

If she is nervous about the outcome of the election: “Absolutely.”

Michaela Davidson

Age: 27

Occupation: Quality assurance coordinator

Voted for: Declined to answer

Her voting priorities: “I’m hoping I can trust in the Democratic Party, but I don’t have much trust in the Republican Party.”

What policies encouraged her to vote early: “Specifically abortion.”

Chris Markiewicz 

Age: 19

Occupation: Second-year interdisciplinary art major at UGA

Voted for: Declined to answer

One word to describe the election: “Divisive.”

What encouraged him to vote: “To me, it’s like, I still believe one candidate is better than the other. And so, I’m still going to enact my right to vote, even if I don’t fully trust both candidates.” 

Hannah Lee, Cade Johnson, Ansley Robinson and Caroline Danzi are students in Reporting I.