USA Today: Long lines in Georgia, Lindsey Graham wards off GOP rivals in SC and other takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries

WASHINGTON – As five states held primary elections Tuesday amid nationwide protests against police brutality and the coronavirus pandemic, problems in Georgia took center stage.

Voters in Georgia waited in line for hours to cast their ballots and there were reports of problems with voting machines. The issues came just a week after voters in Indiana and Washington D.C. also saw long lines in the June 2 primary. Some activists and lawmakers have also warned that could signal problems for the general election on Nov. 3, where record turnout is expected.  …

Some Georgia voters reported waiting up to three hours or more at their polling places, as there was a reduction of voting locations and a shortage of poll workers. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Monday the outcome of the votes might not be available for days.

Georgia used its new ballot-marking machines Tuesday, which consist of digital touch screens that issue paper records of votes. However, in some precincts, voters said none of the machines were working properly, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms wrote on Twitter. The issues prompted some counties to extend their voting hours. …

Aunna Dennis, executive director of Common Cause Georgia, said in a statement that her organization and the Brennan Center in January warned the Secretary of State’s Office to be prepared with “sufficient emergency paper ballots in case of voting machine failure.” She noted that in the several months leading up to the election, other voting rights groups issued similar warnings.

“There are only five months until the general elections, which will almost certainly see record turnout,” she said. “Today’s problems were avoidable – and they disenfranchised voters. That must not be allowed to happen again.”