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Georgia saw an unprecedented number of early votes cast on Tuesday as residents flocked to the polls in this closely-watched battleground state. With the fallout from Hurricane Helene and contentious changes to election administration, the state reported a substantial turnout, shattering previous records.

According to Gabe Sterling from the Georgia secretary of state's office, around 252,000 ballots were cast on Tuesday alone, which far exceeds the previous record of 136,000 set in 2020. Sterling noted the remarkable voter turnout, commenting on X, "Spectacular turnout. We are running out of adjectives for this."

Georgia remains under the national spotlight as former President Donald Trump attempts to reclaim the state after narrowly losing it to President Joe Biden by just 11,779 votes four years ago. This resulted in Trump's unsuccessful efforts to contest the results, which have significantly influenced this election season.

Voters in Atlanta experienced a smoother process this year compared to previous elections. Corine Canada shared her experience with CNN, reflecting on how her voting experience this year was more efficient than in previous cycles. "Last time I voted, the lines were out the door. But here, no, it was easy."

As the state continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, election officials confirmed that absentee ballots were dispatched via the US Postal Service without disruption. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger mentioned that over 250,000 absentee ballots had been requested so far, with anticipated requests possibly rising to 300,000 in the coming week.

New state laws have tightened rules for absentee voting, which may lead more voters to opt for early in-person voting this year. Among the changes are reduced drop boxes, now available only during normal business hours at election offices and early vote locations. Additionally, Georgia law mandates two Saturdays of early voting and allows for two optional Sundays.

Raffensperger assured voters that robust safeguards are in place for the election, including random audits of voting equipment to ensure accuracy and integrity. Following the controversy of the 2020 election, Raffensperger re-certified the results after a statewide recount, re-confirming Biden's victory.

Legal challenges surrounding the new election rules are ongoing, with state judges closely examining recent additions. During a marathon court hearing, Judge Robert McBurney scrutinized the timing of a new rule requiring hand-counting of Election Day ballots, which might be too late to implement for this cycle. Additionally, McBurney addressed another rule obliging local election officials to conduct "reasonable inquiries" into election results prior to certification, which Democrats argue could delay the certification process.

The heightened voter activity in Georgia underscores the significance of these elections and the complexity of the current political landscape. As early voting continues, the state's election procedures and voter responses will remain subjects of intense scrutiny and legal examination.