Usher Election Day 2012 Voting Line Skip, Star Treatment Goes Under Fire
Usher has come under fire, for receiving the star treatment he is accustomed to, at the wrong place and the wrong time.
The "My Way" singer achieved exactly what the song's title suggests: the father-of-two was able to skip a long waiting line of voters at the polls in Georgia.
The VIP treatment caused a stir among those who waited hours to cast their ballot on Election Day.
To the dismay of some Georgia voters, election officials have defended their decision to allow him to cut to the front of the line.
The singer made his way to the front of the line when poll officials took him through a back door the Bill Johnson Community Center in Roswell, Ga.
Fulton County election officials told ABC News affiliate WSB-TV that the decision was made to minimize distractions. They said Usher's team notified them in advance of his plans to vote in person, they dispatched a poll manager to move him "through the process as expeditiously as possible."
"Poll Manager Frank Padula was directed to ensure that Mr. Raymond's presence would not become a distraction by taking necessary measures to move Mr. Raymond through the process as expeditiously as possible," officials told WSB-TV in a statement. "At no point was this decision made for preferential treatment, but to minimize and avoid a distraction at the poll."
Georgia voters became more offended when the singer took photos of himself at the voting booth.
"I take the voting process very seriously, and I was just taken aback that this was allowed to happen," voter Alan Christian told WSB-TV."At that point, he took his camera out, started taking pictures of himself in the booth, of his card and as he was voting."
Usher and his reps have yet to respond to WSB-TV's requests for comment.
Usher has been getting ready for his next gig. The R&B crooner will replace Cee-Lo Green for the fourth season of NBC's hit singing contest "The Voice" next year.
He is very familiar with NBC's reality show format; Usher appeared on "The Voice" previously as guest coach for Adam Levine.
