Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series looking at voter views and concerns. State Affairs spoke with voters across Georgia. Their responses were vastly varied and, in some cases, surprising. Read Part 2 here.

Georgia voters are toting to the polls a mixed bag of views and concerns about the direction of the Peach State and the nation.

Over a dozen voters from around the state shared their concerns — ranging from the cost of living to border control to America’s involvement in the Israel-Hamas war — with State Affairs.

Like most Americans, Georgians are engrossed in the political vitriol of the presidential race, which University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock III deemed “the nastiest” in his nearly 60 years of analyzing state and national politics. 

The seemingly endless loop of television attack ads between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has eclipsed state and local campaigns. The two candidates have spent tens of millions of dollars on campaign ads in battleground states such as Georgia.

“The presidential race has been overshadowing most of the smaller races,” said Fairburn resident Melody Eleam, who plans to vote for Harris. “I haven’t even paid attention to [yard] signs.” 

Nonetheless, voters are motivated.

“There’s a lot on the line with where the country is going,” said Steve Brown, a retired Fayette County commissioner who voted for Trump.

The voters State Affairs spoke with were vocal about their concerns and the direction the country and Georgia are headed.

“Every person I know is anxious,” said Jeff Jones, a college professor in Savannah who voted for Harris. “A lot of people have stopped [looking at] social media and looking at the news because there’s just a high level of anxiety with everyone I know over this election and the fear of what comes after it.”

To gauge voter opinions on a wide range of issues, State Affairs spoke with voters from different parts of the state and of varying political affiliations, ethnic backgrounds and age groups. Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Age: 60

Residence: Peachtree City

Job: Retired Fayette County official

Political affiliation: Republican

Have you voted? Yes. 

What motivated you to vote? I always vote. I think we all have to participate. There’s a lot on the line with where the country is going. 

Presidential choice: Donald Trump 

Down-ballot races you’re interested in: Well, the down-ballot races are a little bit disappointing this year. Most local governments these days, at least in the metro Atlanta area, are consistently raising taxes or increasing budgets, and it doesn’t matter who’s in charge. I just see more and more people in local government who are so ineffective, lacking knowledge of how the government works. Most of the people representing me in the districts I’m voting for are conservatives, and they, for the most part, have done a good job. But I will say, the Legislature has become very susceptible to the public interest that funds them, particularly the interests which are represented by oversight committees that those local representatives are on. 

How well are state leaders doing in managing our state budget? Put it this way: It can always be better. A lot better.

What should we do with Georgia’s $16 billion surplus? It all needs to come back in tax credits to individual citizens, not necessarily businesses.

How well are state leaders dealing with cost-of-living challenges? We’ve got a long way to get back to where we were before the pandemic.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about this election? The voting machines are not the way to go. They can be hacked. We’ve proven that in federal court. Earlier this year, a University of Michigan professor came in and hacked the machine right in front of the [U.S. District] judge [Amy Totenberg] in the federal court. That can’t make you feel too comfortable.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the direction the country is headed? No, I hate to say it, but I think there’s hope. I think it can be pulled around. But we’ve seen a lot of incredible money and influence being used to tarnish the system and the nation itself. Government censorship is a major issue now.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the direction Georgia is headed? I think Georgia, as a state out of 50 states, is doing reasonably well.

Age: 59

Residence: Fairburn

Job: Senior executive assistant for an Atlanta-area consulting firm

Political affiliation: Democrat

Have you voted? No. 

Do you plan to vote? Yes.

What’s motivating you to vote? I’ve always voted. It’s a right and privilege. My mother and father instilled in me that it’s important.

Presidential choice: Kamala Harris

Down-ballot races you’re interested in: Nothing that pops to mind.

How well are state leaders managing our state budget? There’s not been very much movement; I haven’t seen changes that are significant.

What should we do with Georgia’s $16 billion surplus? We need to figure out the cost of living [challenges]. The homeless problem is out of control. The surplus could address that. We could bring our transit system up-to-date.

How well are state leaders dealing with cost-of-living challenges? They’re not right because it got horrible during COVID. We’re still dealing with the residuals of COVID.

Is the state doing enough to create affordable housing options? No. They need to do more.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about this election? I’m optimistic, but as we get closer [to Election Day, I’m] still hearing that some people are undecided. If you’re turning on the television, there’s a lot being thrown at you, so I do understand the confusion.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the direction the country is headed? Optimistic.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the direction Georgia is headed? Optimistic.

Age: 22 

Residence: Atlanta 

Job: Advocacy manager for the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition 

Political affiliation: Democrat

Have you voted? Yes.

What motivated you to vote? I know what’s at stake. My vote is really important in Georgia. Back in 2020, the vote was decided with fewer than 12,000 votes. I really want progress and I want some change in the United States. So that’s why I voted.

Top concerns: Cost of living. Community safety. Protecting LGBTQ rights and keeping diversity, equity and inclusion intact and making sure public education is properly funded.

Presidential choice: Kamala Harris 

Down-ballot races you’re interested in: Specifically city council — that’s why I voted for Devon Barrington-Ward.

How well are state leaders managing our state budget? Because [the Legislature is] Republican-controlled, I’m not a fan of how we’re using state funds. I don’t like the [school] voucher bill and wish Georgia had a more robust Medicare-for-all program. 

What should we do with Georgia’s $16 billion surplus? Have state-funded transportation. Affordable housing. A better Medicaid/Medicare plan instead of PeachCare. Properly funding public schools and updating the state’s Quality Basic Education formula.

How well are state leaders dealing with cost-of-living challenges? There could be more tenant protections. More rent caps. In the end, it’s more about regulating corporations that have control over everything, from housing to food to utility prices.

Is the state doing enough to create affordable housing options? No. In Atlanta, there’ve been some efforts, but not enough.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the election? I’m not sure. I canvass a lot. It’s feeling tight. It’s 50-50.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the direction the country is headed? Optimistic. It depends on how this election goes. On the local level, things have gotten better.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the direction Georgia is headed? I’m optimistic about Georgia. When we look at House races, Democrats are slowly winning. I’m optimistic there’s progress. The Democrats are gaining momentum, especially in 2020 when Georgia flipped blue.

Susan Starling 

Age: 76

Residence: Dillard

Job: Semiretired, but I’m the administrator for my church

Political affiliation: Republican

Have you voted? Yes.

What motivated you to vote? I never miss voting. I’m a history major. I’ve always been politically minded. I need to do my civic duty, and anyone who doesn’t, I really wonder if they should have the opportunity to even complain about anything.

Top concerns: The border is the first one. If we don’t know who’s coming into our country, we have no control. And you’re seeing that in a lot of cities. If you’re allowing people to vote within those cities, in those states, who have no skin in the game, they’re going to vote for whoever someone tells them to vote for while handing them some money or a gift card.
Presidential choice: Donald Trump

Down-ballot races you’re interested in: We didn’t hear a lot about them. If incumbents are staying in, I think they’re going to be voted in pretty easily. We are pretty good about staying in touch with our representatives, and they’re good about staying in touch with us. 

How well are state leaders managing our state budget? They’ve done a pretty good job. I think there are always ways to cut these budgets and tighten them federally and locally.

What should we do with Georgia’s $16 billion surplus? Our roads are certainly in need. 

How well are state leaders dealing with cost-of-living challenges? I’m in a pretty high [housing] market up here. Up here, particularly because people wanted to move out of populated areas in other states and move up to the mountains, that’s what’s driven [up] our [housing costs]. I don’t think the state has had anything to do with it.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the election? I’m praying and I’m trying to be optimistic.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the direction the country is headed? I just know that one person in the next four years can’t make all the changes we need. I’m not sure a lot of it can be changed. We might have already gone down too far. It’s going to depend on if we continue to stand up together, raise our voices.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the direction Georgia is headed? I’ve seen a great deal of growth in Georgia.

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Have questions? Contact Tammy Joyner on X @lvjoyner or at [email protected].

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