Georgia's first day of in-person early voting Monday was marred by excessive wait times, as the combination of high turnout and technical difficulties resulted in long lines and possible health risks—a situation that voting rights advocates described as an example of intense voter engagement and excitement being undermined by a troubling system of voter suppression.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), "voters wrapped around buildings... even before polling places opened."
All registered voters in the state are eligible to vote prior to November 3, and early voters may cast a ballot at any polling station located in their county.
The AJC noted that "in-person early voters will join the 439,000 Georgia voters who have already returned their absentee ballots," adding that "by the time Election Day finally arrives, over two-thirds of the state's 5 million projected turnout will have already voted."
While this year's added flexibility is meant to encourage participation amid the coronavirus pandemic, election officials explained that "their goal is to keep lines moving and avoid problems" that occurred during Georgia's primary election on June 9, when voters in some areas experienced wait times of several hours.
Early evidence indicates that officials are not meeting their stated objective.
The Washington Postreported that "voters waited in line for up to five hours across the metro Atlanta region and surrounding suburbs."
"This is a picture of voter suppression," tweeted Claire McCaskill, a former senator from Missouri and current NBC News and MSNBC analyst. "Why do Americans have to wait in lines this long?"
At State Farm Arena, Georgia's largest early voting site, there was "a glitch with voter check-in computers" that caused lines to stop "after voters received an 'invalid card' error when inserting green voter access cards into touchscreens," the AJC reported.
AP Newsreported Monday that a federal judge on Sunday had expressed "serious concerns about Georgia's new election system but declined to order the state to abandon its touchscreen voting machines in favor of hand-marked paper ballots."
Adrienne Crowley, who waited an hour and a half to vote at the arena told the Atlanta city newspaper that "it was a little frustrating," but added that she would have waited "all day if I had to."
"It's a positive and a negative," Smyrna resident Danielle Driscoll told the AJC, referring to a line that had come to a 15-minute standstill outside the South Cobb Regional Library.
"It's a positive because people are voting," Driscoll said, "but it's a negative because I don't want to wait in line."
Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist at Dartmouth, argued on social media that "we're becoming desensitized to unacceptable burdens on the franchise."
"People died for this right," Nyhan added. It "shouldn't take hours to participate in our democracy."
Voting rights expert Ari Berman tweeted that it's "great to see so many people excited about voting."
"But it's unacceptable to make them wait so long," he added.
Journalist Molly Jong-Fast stated that "this is so incredibly unfair. Voting should be easy."
This article was originally published by Common Dreams. You can read it here.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.