• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
PoliticsU.S. Presidential Election

Last-minute flights and hours in the car—Absentee ballot delays ignite drastic measures

Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 5, 2024, 7:50 PM ET
Voters report booking last-minute trips to cast ballots in person.
Voters report booking last-minute trips to cast ballots in person.Rebecca Droke/Getty

Tens of millions of Americans successfully voted early by mail for Tuesday’s presidential election. But others faced delays that had them booking last minute flights or road-tripping across multiple states to cast their ballots.

Recommended Video

Videos across social media sites depict the lengths that some voters say they went to to vote after their absentee ballots were delayed. Last-minute flights were booked, while others said they had to drive hours to make it to the state they were registered to vote in in time to cast a ballot in person.

Many of the videos were made by voters registered in Georgia, a swing state in which the state supreme court overturned a lower court decision to allow absentee ballots to be received through Friday. The lower court granted the extension for more than 3,000 voters in Cobb County who requested an absentee ballot but did not receive it in time.

The Southern Poverty Law Center confirmed to Fortune that it has “received multiple reports from voters who were making alternate plans after yesterday’s Georgia Supreme Court ruling.” The Cobb County Communications Department said it has a “good stream of voters come in, but we aren’t asking how they got here!”

Dropping off a ballot on Election Day

“We’re catching planes, trains and driving through the night to get our votes in by any means necessary,” wrote one voter on TikTok.

Another woman said she paid $500 to fly to Atlanta and cast her ballot. “It’s absolutely infuriating to know that thousands of others aren’t able to exercise their right for whatever callous reason,” she said.

But voters aren’t just traveling to Georgia to make sure their ballots are cast. Lexi Harder, 30, told the New York Times she paid more than $1,100 for a round-trip flight from Berlin in order to vote in Montgomery County, Pa. Harder said she traveled 15 hours after her completed absentee ballot was returned to her.

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
Alicia Adamczyk
By Alicia AdamczykSenior Writer
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Alicia Adamczyk is a former New York City-based senior writer at Fortune, covering personal finance, investing, and retirement.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Politics

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Politics

United States President Donald Trump walks toward the White House upon his arrival in Washington, DC, from Memphis, Tennessee, United States, on March 23, 2026.
EconomyIran
Wall Street is ‘bewitched’ by positive news on Iran, says UBS, and investors want to believe the war is over without verifiable information
By Eleanor PringleMarch 24, 2026
1 hour ago
EconomyMarkets
Trump searches for an exit strategy in Iran as $100 oil looms over the midterms
By Jim EdwardsMarch 24, 2026
2 hours ago
fauci
CommentaryCOVID-19 vaccines
How COVID turned America against science — and what it will take to win it back
By David Blumenthal and James A. MoroneMarch 24, 2026
4 hours ago
Kirby gestures
EnergyAir Travel
Airlines are preparing for the worst as Iran war enters its fourth week. But demand is still strong, and travelers are willing to pay higher fares
By Jacqueline MunisMarch 24, 2026
7 hours ago
CryptoBitcoin
Bitcoin climbs as Trump grants five days for Iran negotiations
By Emily Nicolle, Melos Ambaye and BloombergMarch 23, 2026
17 hours ago
BankingIran
Iran issues its largest-ever currency denomination as accelerating inflation ravages a financial sector deemed a ‘Ponzi scheme’ even before the war
By Jason MaMarch 23, 2026
17 hours ago

Most Popular

Commentary
The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
22 hours ago
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of March 23, 2026
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
24 hours ago
Economy
It took 200 years for national debt to hit $1 trillion. Annual interest alone now exceeds that—a 'crushing legacy we must reverse,' says budget chair
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
1 day ago
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of March 23, 2026
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
24 hours ago
Health
Trump has TACO'd again, this time in Iran, sparking a $1.7 trillion stock market rally in minutes, even as peace talks are in question
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
21 hours ago
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, March 23, 2026
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.