The election day in the United States was marked by a tragedy in Missouri and a series of bomb threats in Georgia.
Two election workers from Wright County, Missouri, lost their lives Tuesday after being caught in severe flooding that hit the state overnight. According to a statement released by the Wright County Clerk’s Office, the tragedy occurred “as a result of swift, high water from the storms that came through the area the night before.» The Missouri State Highway Patrol recovered the victims’ bodies from Beaver Creek after their vehicles were swept off the road. The victims, a 70-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman, were identified as election workers from Wright County.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, Election Day was disrupted by bomb threats that led to extended voting hours at 12 polling sites. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced that the hours were adjusted at six locations in DeKalb County, five in Fulton County, and one in Gwinnett County, all in the Atlanta suburbs. Additionally, three other polling places in the state extended their hours due to «normal causes.»
Raffensperger also confirmed that the bomb threats, originating from Russia, had impacted these centers, and the FBI was aware of the source of the threats. In a press conference, the official emphasized,“The FBI knows where it’s coming from, but we want to make sure in the interest of public safety, make sure that it doesn’t slow down anyone from voting.»
Regarding voter turnout, Georgia set a historic record, with more than 5.2 million people expected to vote. “We’ve never had this kind of turnout before, so voters are responding,» Raffensperger noted. He also highlighted that new state legislation will require counties to publish results an hour after polls close, ensuring faster vote counting. «It’ll be a whole lot faster than it’s ever been before, and we think that’s a good thing,» he said.
