The platinum-selling singer angers fellow voters who say the special treatment was unfair.
The perks of being a pop star, it seems, extend all the way to the voting booth. Usher was one of many Americans who faced daunting lines to cast his ballot on Election Day, but unlike millions of his compatriots, the "OMG" singer was allowed to skip all the way to the front.
Election officials in Usher's home county of Fulton are defending their decision after confirming that the star was escorted to the front of the line on Tuesday. According to a statement to local news station WSBTV, the polling place at Bill Johnson Community Center was notified by Usher's people ahead of time and decided to make a way for him in order to prevent a scene.
"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," the statement said. "At no point was this decision made for preferential treatment, but to minimize and avoid a distraction at the poll."
Nevertheless, voters who had been waiting in line for their turn to vote did notice Usher's preferential treatment and they weren't too happy about it.
"I take the voting process very seriously, and I was just taken aback that this was allowed to happen," said voter Alan Christian.
To add insult to injury, Usher was seen snapping photos of himself while voting, an action that had been expressly forbidden for others. Several of the shots were later posted on Twitter and Instagram.
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(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images For BET)
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