Polling place near shooting to remain open for Election Day voters

Fulton County heads to the voting polls On Tuesday, the polls opened for Georgia's 2018 primary races Key contests include governor and lieutenant governor Others include secretary of state, state superintendent of schools, insurance commissioner and labor commissioner The polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m.


Police were investigating a reported shooting near a northwest Atlanta polling location on Tuesday afternoon.

The precinct at Lindsay Street Baptist Church, will remain open but police are on the scene for security and because it’s a crime scene, a Fulton County elections spokeswoman said.

Police believe that shooting may have been a suicide.

Meanwhile, more than 300 people had already voted at Sutton Middle School in Buckhead before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday to help decide candidates for governor, Congress and statewide races in the Democratic and Republican primaries.

John R. Seydel was one of them. The Atlanta native’s concerns about environmental policies and efforts helped him decide who to vote for in some of the different races.

Seydel supported Stacey Abrams for governor in part because he believes she can get young people “actively paying attention” to environmental issues — not just during elections, but also when legislation is happening.

Sutton Middle School after a brief rain shower during the primaries on May 22, 2018.

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At another Atlanta polling location earlier in the morning, a 68-year-old crossing guard said she supported Abrams because she thinks the candidate sends a good message. Others have said they're just excited that a woman could be elected Georgia's next governor.

In addition to Abrams, the following are also running for governor: Casey Cagle (R), Stacey Evans (D), Hunter Hill (R), Brian Kemp (R), Clay Tippins (R) and Michael Williams (R).

In Gwinnett, a Pinckneyville Park voter cast his ballot for Cagle, citing the lieutenant governor's extensive government experience as a key qualifier. And a lifelong Democrat in Cobb County was a fan of Evans's passion.

John R. Seydel: “I think it’s very important that people of all ages but especially young people go out and vote in all elections if we want to have our values translated through our decision makers.”  

READ | The forces that will decide Georgia's primary election

READ | Understanding Georgia's race for governor 

In addition to the gubernatorial race, Seydel is also interested in the public service commissioner seats. His votes went to Dawn Randolph and Lindy Miller on the Democratic ballot, but he’s hoping for someone who supports advanced energy options — whether they be Democrat or Republican.

“That’s the Atlanta I want to see, and the Georgia I want to see,” he said.

The location’s polling manager, Santeisha Byron, said numbers seemed pretty low compared to other primaries she’s worked. But she expects it will get busier later in the day when people start getting off work.

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