Georgia voters decide governor, senator, and three constitutional changes Tuesday

Georgia voters head to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, to select a new governor, a U.S. senator, and members of the state legislature. The statewide vote also includes a decision on three proposed changes to the state constitution. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in every county.

The gubernatorial race draws the most attention because incumbent Brian Kemp is not allowed to run for a third consecutive term. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, faces Republican Rick Jackson. Both candidates have finished their final days of campaigning as they seek to take over Kemp's office.

One of Georgia's two Senate seats is also up for grabs. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff is running for reelection against Republican House member Mike Collins. The other Senate seat, held by Raphael Warnock, is not contested in this cycle. Voters will also choose representatives for all 14 of the state's congressional districts.

The ballot covers a wide range of state and local offices. Candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and state school superintendent are on the ballot. Voters will also elect members of the Agriculture, Insurance, and Labor Commissions, as well as the Public Service Commission. All seats in the Georgia General Assembly are in play, along with various judicial and county level positions.

Three constitutional amendments are included in the vote. Amendment 1 would double the maximum amount of agricultural or forest land eligible for a special tax classification from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres. Amendment 2 would require all probate court judges to be elected through nonpartisan elections. Amendment 3 would allow the General Assembly to create a specific fund for the expansion and maintenance of Next Generation 911 emergency systems.

Turnout during the early voting period set a new benchmark. In-person early voting ended on Friday, October 30. By the day before that deadline, more than 2.29 million people had already cast their ballots in person. The Secretary of State's office confirmed that this number surpasses the early voting record from the 2022 midterm elections.

On election day, voters must go to their assigned polling place rather than any location in the county. This differs from the early voting period, which allowed more flexibility. Each voter must present a valid photo identification to cast a ballot. Those who still have an absentee ballot must ensure it is received by their county election office before 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday to be counted.

The state offers a tool called My Voter Page, available through the Secretary of State's website, where citizens can find their polling place and verify their registration. Initial results will begin to come in after the polls close at 7:00 p.m. If any race is too close to determine a winner, a runoff election is scheduled for December 1.