This election season, early voting numbers have reached unprecedented levels. Across the country, millions of Americans have already cast their ballots, with some states reporting early voter turnout that surpasses any prior election.

In battleground states, these numbers are particularly revealing, hinting at a heated race that could go down to the wire. As early voting shatters records, everyone is watching closely to see which side might benefit from this surge in civic participation.

One place to watch is Georgia, where the early voting wave has reached historic highs. In Towns County—a stronghold for Trump in 2020—turnout is 15 percentage points higher than the state average, leading all 159 counties in Georgia.

And Towns isn’t alone; other conservative counties in Northeast Georgia, like Stephens and Hall, are also setting records. Republicans are rallying their base to vote early, aiming to make the election “too big to rig.” With this strategy, Republicans seem determined to claim Georgia with a voter surge that just might carry Trump across the finish line.

From Washington Examiner:
High early voting turnout in deep red Georgia counties indicates former President Donald Trump could be on the pathway to win the battleground state in just five days.

Towns County, which lies in Georgia’s 9th Congressional District, went for Trump by an overwhelming margin of 80% during the 2020 presidential election. This time around, early voting turnout in the ruby red county has reached a staggering 15 percentage points above the state average, according to an analysis by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Red Wave Rising in Northeast Georgia

Representative Andrew Clyde, who represents Georgia’s 9th Congressional District, which includes Towns County, proudly announced that his district leads the state in early voter turnout. “Northeast Georgia is the heart of the conservative movement,” Clyde said in a recent post.

He stressed that this election is “critical” for the future, and the district is proving it, with numbers speaking volumes. By Thursday, nearly two-thirds of Towns County’s voters had already cast their ballots, even before the early voting deadline.

This level of enthusiasm isn’t just confined to Towns County. Counties like Union, Rabun, and Stephens are also reporting high early turnout rates. Republicans across the state have embraced early voting this time, marking a shift from 2020 when there was more skepticism within the GOP about the process.

Now, with a proactive push to get Republicans to vote early, the strategy aims to eliminate any room for last-minute surprises or potential voting issues on Election Day.

Turning the Tables: Republicans Embrace Early Voting

The GOP’s change in strategy this cycle is striking. Georgia’s Republican voters are turning out early, taking Trump’s call to heart to make the election impossible to contest. Trump’s words have resonated: “We want a landslide that’s too big to rig.”

This push to flood the early voting lines reflects a strategic pivot for Republicans, who once viewed early voting with suspicion but are now determined to harness it for an advantage. Towns County GOP Chairwoman Betsy Young explained this shift, saying, “Four years ago, we were reactive instead of proactive. But now we’re being proactive.”

And the numbers show it. As of Thursday, Georgia had seen over 3.5 million early votes cast, surpassing the 2020 count of 2.1 million by this point. According to Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, over half of the state’s active voters had already cast their ballots with days to go.

This surge could tip the balance in a state that Biden won by a razor-thin margin of just 12,000 votes in 2020. Trump’s appeal in traditionally blue-leaning areas of Atlanta is another part of his strategy to secure the state and prevent any repeat of the narrow loss.

Trump vs. Harris: Georgia Polls Show a Close Race

With early voting numbers setting records, polling in Georgia shows the race remains tight. The latest data from RealClearPolitics gives Trump a slight edge of less than 3 points over Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump has been making concerted efforts in the state, even visiting Democratic strongholds in Atlanta to drum up support. His message is clear: every vote counts, and Georgia could be the tipping point for the entire election.

Trump’s campaign rallies have echoed this message, urging supporters to vote early and bring others along to do the same. At a recent rally in Atlanta, he told the crowd, “Get everyone you know. Just get them all out to vote.”

For Trump’s supporters, the push to secure Georgia is not just about winning; it’s about ensuring the election results are clear and incontestable. Meanwhile, Harris’s campaign has also been working hard to motivate Democratic voters, but the energy in Northeast Georgia shows that the GOP base is fired up and ready to make their voices heard.

Conservative Counties Set the Tone

The numbers from conservative counties in Northeast Georgia reflect more than just voter enthusiasm—they represent a political statement. After a narrow loss in Georgia in 2020, Trump’s supporters in these areas are on a mission to prove that Georgia’s swing to blue was an anomaly, not a trend. With Towns County leading the way, early voting turnout among Republicans suggests they are mobilized and motivated.

For Trump, these early votes signal an energized base that’s ready to reclaim Georgia and keep it red. And with nearly three-quarters of the state’s votes likely to be cast early, Republicans are setting the stage to potentially turn the state in their favor before Election Day even arrives.

Democrats, on the other hand, are focusing efforts on their strongholds, hoping to counter the early turnout numbers with a big showing of their own.

Key Takeaways

• Georgia sees over 3.5 million early votes, breaking the 2020 record and suggesting strong GOP turnout.
• Towns County and other conservative counties show a surge in early votes, responding to Trump’s call for a “landslide.”
• Polls show Trump slightly ahead of Harris in Georgia, signaling a tight race.

Source: Washington Examiner