Voters in Georgia Cast their Ballots

Today is Election Day, the day that the two Presidential candidates have been looking forward to for months, if not years. Millions of people around the country are casting their votes at their local precincts, or election districts. In Johns Creek, Georgia, many people came to Medlock Bridge Elementary School to vote.

The students of the school had today off, so the school’s cafeteria was transformed temporarily into a polling place with many voting machines. When this Kid Reporter got there, people faced a long line to vote and the average wait time was about an hour. Dozens and dozens of people, young and old, waited patiently in line for their turn.

Yet surprisingly, one poll worker said, “This line is the shortest it’s been all day!”

Earlier, the line had stretched all the way outside, where people waited in the rain. As the people finished voting and walked out of the school with stickers that read "I am a Georgia Voter," this Kid Reporter asked some of them about the importance of voting and about the most expensive Presidential race in history.

“You decide on your future and which way the country goes,” Fred Saidy said about the importance of voting. “I think both [candidates] did a good job, but I didn’t like that Mr. Romney kept on changing his words. Georgia’s leaning towards Mitt Romney, but I hope it goes Democratic this time.”

Voter Andy Bunch also gave some thoughts on this election. He had a similar opinion.

“The candidates are pretty different and it’ll make a pretty big difference in the leadership of the country,” he said. When asked how he feels about the end of the election season, he said, “I will be glad when it’s over today.”

So what were the biggest issues in this election? The kids of the Scholastic News poll said that the economy, healthcare, and the war in Afghanistan were the major issues. Kevin Bradley had a similar view.

“The economy is the biggest thing and protecting our veterans is another thing,” he said. “I did support Barack Obama. I want the consistency of the incumbent to move forward and I think he might be a stronger choice.” But he still thought Mitt Romney would win the state. “Mitt is doing a lot stronger here than Barack is and I think he might win the state.”

Another voter who preferred not to be named had this to say about why people should vote.

“People have died for the opportunity you have the right to choose and I think people need to exercise their right,” she said.

All of the voters that I spoke to predicted that Governor Mitt Romney would win the state of Georgia, which has been a Republican state in every election since 1992. 

“Both candidates are well spoken, well educated, strong candidates, and I think we’ll do okay no matter who wins,” Bradley said. “It’s important for your voice to be heard and your opinions to be cast so that the correct candidates can be put in place.”

—Kid Reporter Andrew Liang