Georgia Opens Early Voting With Record Midterm Turnout
Georgia voters began early voting with a record-setting surge Tuesday, casting more ballots on opening day than in any previous midterm cycle as high-stakes statewide races move toward November.
Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said 188,667 people voted in person on October 13. That was 53,705 more than the 134,962 votes cast on the first day of early voting in 2022, an increase of nearly 40 percent. The opening-day total also far exceeded the 70,849 in-person votes recorded in 2018.
Raffensperger credited the turnout to voters’ confidence in Georgia’s election system and the local officials who administer it.
“This record-breaking turnout proves that voters have confidence in the integrity of our elections,” Raffensperger emphatically declared in his statement.
“It’s a testament to our strong election system overseen by 159 of the best county election officials in the country.”
Election officials also reported 10,267 accepted absentee ballots, bringing participation beyond the crowds at in-person voting sites.
The strong start gives Georgia Republicans an opportunity to show the reach of their statewide organizing as they compete for votes across a closely divided state. But turnout figures alone do not reveal which party stands to benefit. Republicans and Democrats are both campaigning intensely, and the ballots will remain secret until they are counted.
Among the most closely watched contests is the U.S. Senate race between Republican Congressman Mike Collins and Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. A Republican win would give the party a significant pickup opportunity and could strengthen its position in the Senate.
Ossoff has led in some recent polling, however, making talk of an assured Republican victory premature. Georgia remains competitive: President Donald Trump carried the state by approximately two percentage points in 2024, giving Republicans a recent statewide win to build on as they seek another.
The governor’s race is drawing attention as well. Republican businessman Rick Jackson is challenging former Democratic Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for an open seat. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is leaving office because of term limits, making the contest a consequential fight over the state’s future policy direction.
Republicans hope to retain the governor’s mansion, a position that gives its occupant significant influence over state government. Georgians will also vote in races for lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, Congress and the state legislature. The results will help shape decisions on taxation, public safety, education, election administration and other key issues.
In a race this close, voter mobilization could matter most in suburban counties, where even modest shifts in participation may influence statewide results. Cobb County reported that 16,392 voters cast ballots at 13 early voting locations on opening day.
Despite the heavy demand, county officials reported short waits, with average processing times of about one minute and 16 seconds. The busiest reported location, First Baptist Church of Smyrna, handled 808 voters.
Local reports described orderly voting operations despite the turnout, an encouraging sign as officials manage the first wave of early ballots. Georgia has more than 7.5 million active voters, leaving room for participation to grow throughout the voting period.
By October 15, statewide totals were approaching 365,000 in-person votes, while more than 16,000 absentee ballots had been accepted. The continuing surge suggests the opening-day rush did not quickly fade, though the final turnout rate remains uncertain.
Raffensperger said he expects overall participation to challenge the previous midterm benchmark, when nearly four million Georgians voted.
Early voting runs through October 30, giving registered voters multiple opportunities to cast a ballot before Election Day. Saturday voting is scheduled for October 17 and October 24, and some counties will also offer optional Sunday voting. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 23. The general election is November 3.
A new check-in requirement directs poll workers to record voters’ names manually after completing electronic verification.
The record opening gives Republicans reason to point to a highly engaged electorate heading into a consequential election. With control of the governor’s office, a Senate seat and other statewide positions at stake, both parties will be watching closely to see whether Georgia’s early turnout continues—and which voters are driving it.