Johns Creek Votes; Election Results

While Johns Creek didn't have much in the way of local elections this year, voters turned out on Tuesday to cast their ballots for the Presidential race and proposed charter school amendment.

While Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney won Georgia as expected, President Barack Obama remained the country's leader. Georgia's charter school amendment passed, giving the state the power to approve public charter schools.

Johns Creek's State House Rep. Lynne Riley (R-District 50) ran unopposed, as did State Sen. David Shafer (R-District 48). State Sen. Johns Albers (R-District 56), who represents a small portion of Johns Creek, defeated Democrat challenger Akhtar Sadiq. In Congress, U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-District 6) faced down a challenge from Democrat Jeff Kazanow. (Scroll to the bottom of this article for statewide election results.)

In Johns Creek, residents casting those ballots reported wait lines anywhere from five minutes to two hours, chiming in on Johns Creek Patch's Facebook page:

"They had only two poll workers processing IDs at Barnwell Elementary this morning at 7," said Poncho Wilson, who said he got in line 15 minutes before the polls opened and waited more than two hours to cast his ballot.

"90 minutes at River Trail at 7:20 this morning. Lines were thinning out when I left," said Kevin Hegebarth.

In the lunch hour on Tuesday, Fulton County tweeted, "Long lines are expected not the exception today. We have a very high turnout. Thank you for your patience."

Meanwhile, at Ocee Library, which earlier served as an advance voting location, some citizens reported five minute wait times. "Everyone voted Friday when the wait was 4 hours at Ocee!" said Kate Tate.

Fulton County voters had turned out in droves for advance voting opportunities, with . At Ocee Libary in Johns Creek, more than 24,000 voters cast early ballots. Advance voting began Oct. 15 and ended Friday, Nov. 2.

At Abbotts Hill Elementary, poll manager Laura Lockie said she thinks the early voting opportunity at nearby Ocee Library took some of the pressure off Election Day lines in Johns Creek. While there was no wait time around 4 p.m. on Tuesday at Abbotts Hill, she said morning voting had been "steady," with 75 people in line at 7 a.m. and some voters having arrived as early as 6. Lockie said about 560 out of 2,100 registered voters at that precinct had cast ballots as of 4 p.m.

At Barnwell Elementary, wait times had improved from the morning snarl, having gone down to just under 30 minutes around 5 p.m. One poll worker said morning lines were bad because, while they had requested two express voting machines, that precinct had only received two.

Alex Brown was one of those voters in and out of Barnwell in under 30 minutes. She said she had previously tried to take advantage of advance voting in Sandy Springs, but gave up due to long wait times.

So on Election Day, she came prepared with a magazine in case she had to wait. "I always vote because so many people of my race did so much to get the vote, I don't want to take it lightly. It's a privilege and honor to vote." 

See also: 

State Looking Into Fulton Voting Problems

Georgia Charter Schools Amendment Appears to Pass

Barack Obama Re-Elected President

Mitt Romney Projected to Win Georgia

Georgia Votes: 2012 Election Results

Statewide election results as of Wednesday, Nov. 7, 12:30 a.m:

David Shafer 
(Incumbent-uncontested)

63.95%