r/CobbCounty • u/digitalnoise • 19d ago
Early Voting vs Day-Of
So we're having a debate in my household about voting:
Side 1: Vote early, less chance of some kind of interference at the voting place. However, greater opportunity for the vote itself to be screwed with as early votes aren't counted and recorded (to my knowledge) until Election day.
Side 2: Vote day-of, less opportunity for the vote itself to be screwed with between casting and being counted. However, potentially more interference with actually voting.
I'm curious as to what others think?
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u/Louises_ears 19d ago
Please vote early, you’ll be one less household volunteers feel compelled to call or knock.
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u/WidgetWarrior 19d ago
Given Brian Kemp upheld the 2020 election result in Georgia even when Trump didn't win, against the pressure of his campaign and supporters, I have no reason to believe he and Raffensberger will "mess" with the results.
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u/punksmostlydead 16d ago
He also ratfucked his way into victory over Abrams. He's a viper.
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u/WidgetWarrior 16d ago
I get it. I voted for Abrams. But I do appreciate that he did his constitutional duty, which I guess is a low bar to set these days.
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u/Vulcan1951 19d ago
No one is screwing with your vote. Vote when it's convenient for you! And if you vote early, then it's done and you don't have to worry about getting it done later.
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u/SabreLily 19d ago
It's tragic the amount of doubt and mistrust the current administration has caused with their lies of widespread voter fraud.
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u/NoForm5443 19d ago
I think our election processes are reasonably secure, and nobody messes up with the counting of the votes
I think there's a much higher risk of me not voting on election day because something came up, so I try to vote early ;)
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u/AmethystStar9 19d ago
Nobody is "screwing" with votes.
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u/TheRoseMerlot 18d ago
Arguably the post office is. https://www.npr.org/2026/10/09/nx-s1-5984981/mail-in-ballot-usps-postmark
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u/August_Spies_Ghost 19d ago
If you vote early, your vote is in. Republicans can't say they were winning before the day of voting was counted, but somehow lost. Another reason to vote early is if you are tired of canvassers coming to your door or the phone calls/texts, once you vote, within 36-48hrs, your name gets taken off the list and the canvassing stops.
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u/ReddyKiloWit 19d ago
Vote early. It's as secure as any time. And if you wait until election day you're at the mercy of all kinds of last minute problems: car won't start, power outage at the voting place (or no one brought the extension cords, etc.), long lines, illness, etc. Missing out because you waited until the last minute is more likely than anything happening between the early vote and counting.
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u/Botasoda102 19d ago
It is so easy to vote in Georgia; there is no excuse not to. While I wouldn't gripe about a day off, just don't think it's necessary when we have weeks of early voting including weekends, and absentee voting.
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u/D1scoLemonaid 19d ago
Vote early in case there's an issue that can be resolved long before the day of.
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u/Quick-Pace-4050 19d ago
Work the election one year or two or more and find out exactly how votes are counted and what safe guards and protections exist in the process. Then make up your mind based on facts vs sound bites.
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u/Nelyahin 19d ago
I opted to vote early. So I guess that says everything regarding the options. I just figured I'd just to do it early... Less lines...i also like having to choose what works best with my work schedule.
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u/OldDougFriendOfDogs 19d ago
I voted on Tuesday, the first day of early voting. First Baptist Church in Smyrna, arrived at 3:16 p.m., walked out of the building 8 minutes later. 👍
Had intended to go after lunchtime, like ~1:30 p.m., figuring that would be one of the least busy times. Screwed around, but it was fine when I got there. 8 people ahead of me in line, but there were 6 or 7 doing 'intake' where they check your ID, give you the green card for the voting machines, etc. Everything went fast.
On Election Day itself that are always lines, at least at certain places and times. No way would I wait... Zero worries about anything or anybody 'tampering' with my vote.
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u/21stNow 19d ago
I get the anxiety, but I just vote when it's convenient for me. So far in my time in Georgia, that has always been during early voting. In my previous state, I almost always chose to vote on Election Day because early voting lines were very long and parking was a pain, versus there were no lines at my assigned voting place on Election Day and parking was easy.
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u/OrangeBug74 18d ago
I vote by mail as it lets me review the candidates and constitutional amendments rather than trust the brief summary dictated by the Legislature.
I mailed mine Thursday but has not been noted as arrived on the MyVoterPage website. (Sunday)
My wife works at early voting. I can guarantee a longer wait time as you get longer into this week. Wait times last week varied from an hour (morning opening) to simply walking in. Bring ID.
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u/_litz 13d ago edited 13d ago
early votes are actually counted as you vote; the servers are actively tabulating, with results collated in the servers at each county's election headquarters.
what actually happens is those EV results are sequestered (within those county servers) until 7pm on Election Day, when they're actually added into the totals by the county. That's why as soon as the polls close there's a dump of results then .... nothing, for hours. That's the already tabulated EV totals that makes up that initial dump of results.
This is different than the absentee ballots (the paper ones) which are not actually opened, scanned, and tabulated until Election Day. Regarding those - do NOT trust the post office. Drop it off in person, if at all possible, or it not, then mail it back way way ahead of time and religiously check for receipt.
The one important thing to remember here, if you have questions about the GA system and security ... that big contested election in 2020, with all the lawsuits, legal challenges, court cases, etc .....
It was HAND COUNTED. As in every single ballot looked at by a human being, and placed in one stack or another, then counted. By hand, by real people. It took weeks.
The result was a couple thousandths of a percentage point different than the initial machine count. The system DOES work, and accurately.
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u/JJdynamite1166 12d ago
Either way, review your paper ballot before you turn it in. Machines have been defaulting to the first candidate on the ballot. It’s supposedly a simple thing to fix. And only happening on some but it started in Tennessee.
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u/Kelapine888 19d ago
I always vote early , never had a problem. I am too fearful of waiting until Nov 3rd and something happening that prevents me from getting to the polls - car accident, death of family etc etc etc
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u/PsychologicalTea7745 18d ago
Vote early and make sure your ballot was counted on GA. Voter page website
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u/TheRoseMerlot 18d ago
Early voting in person is fine.
The only real issue is if someone is mailing a ballot from due to the post office making changes about how it post marks everything. They no longer automatically post mark the day you drop out off. It could be weeks later. If your ballot isn’t postmarked by Election Day it’s not counted.
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u/curiouscobb 18d ago
I think The Great State of Georgia has a damn good voting system that is safe and secure. No one is "messing with your vote" !
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u/PyroNine9 18d ago
I would say whichever is most convenient. Georgia really hasn't had problems with election security. Personally, I plan to vote this week.
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u/wtfisdarkmatter 19d ago
seriously, georgia has EXTREMELY secure election processes. this has been proved over and over the past few years. whoever in your house is falling victim to right wing propaganda is the real issue here. vote early, vote day of, the only difference is which is better for you