Official voter turnout statistics from Georgia Secretary of State

Hoax Bomb Threats Linked to Russia Close Georgia Polling Sites; FBI Investigates

Nov 5, 2024, 11:57 PM

Multiple polling locations across Georgia received bomb threats on Election Day, leading to temporary closures and extended voting hours at some sites. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger reported that the threats, which were deemed non-credible, originated from Russian email domains. "Georgia's not going to be intimidated," Raffensperger said. The FBI is investigating the incidents, which affected polling places in Fulton County and DeKalb County, among others. In Fulton County, which has 177 polling places, 32 bomb threats were reported, causing evacuations at several stations, including the Etris Community Center and Gullatt Elementary in Union City. Voting was suspended at five locations in DeKalb County. As a result of the disruptions, hours were extended at 12 polling places across Georgia to ensure voters could cast their ballots. Similar threats were also reported in other states, including Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. The Russian Embassy in Washington dismissed the allegations as "malicious slander." Despite the disruptions, officials emphasized that the voting process was not significantly impacted and that the threats did not affect the state's vote tallies.