Georgia primaries 2018: Voting begins in Gwinnett County

Best Friend Park in Norcross welcomed Gwinnett County voters Tuesday morning.

Credit: Amanda C. Coyne

Credit: Amanda C. Coyne

Best Friend Park in Norcross welcomed Gwinnett County voters Tuesday morning.

Voting has begun in Gwinnett County for primaries from school board to governor.

This primary election may serve as an indicator of Democrats' prospects in Gwinnett, long a Republican stronghold. The county has multiple Democratic primaries for its board of commissioners and school board.

Tuesday also marks the first election day in which all voting material is available in both English and Spanish to county voters.

READ | AJC Voter Guide is available online

MORE | Inside Gwinnett's quest to find 350 Spanish-speaking poll workers

The county has made Spanish voting materials and Spanish-speaking poll workers available to voters since early voting began in late April. Because the county’s population is more than 20 percent Hispanic, it is required to provide the Spanish language assistance under the Voting Rights Act.

That hasn’t changed the procedure much at Best Friend Park, a polling place in Norcross.

“We’ve added a (Spanish-speaking) staff member and put up a few signs, but not much has changed and we’re happy to do it,” said Anna Moore, an assistant poll manager who’s been working at the location for 13 years. She started when she was 16 years old, working alongside her mother Julie Moore, who is the poll manager.

Best Friend Park isn’t typically busy during primaries, Anna Moore said. She estimated about 150 people came to the polling place for the average primary election.

On Tuesday morning, a handful of people cast their ballots at Best Friend Park shortly after voting opened at 7 a.m., rushing in from a light drizzle and back out to drive to the day of work ahead.

Like Gwinnett County News on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

Stay up to the minute with breaking news on Channel 2 Action News This Morning

What’s on the ballot in Gwinnett County: