Early voting began Tuesday in Georgia under a new State Election Board rule requiring poll workers to write each voter's name on a numbered list after check-in, a measure officials say is meant to maintain accurate voter records and create a paper trail of who cast ballots. Early voting runs through Oct. 30, ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office reported a first-day record of 188,667 in-person ballots, up from 134,962 in 2022 and 70,849 in 2018, plus over 10,000 absentee ballots. Black voters made up more than 36% of first-day votes, a 6-point increase from 2024. Raffensperger called the turnout a sign of voter confidence in the state's election system.
Voters are deciding several high-profile contests, including governor and U.S. Senate. Sen. Raphael Warnock cast his ballot on the first day alongside Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, who faces healthcare executive Rick Jackson for the seat being vacated by Gov. Brian Kemp. Sen. Jon Ossoff, seeking a second term against Republican Rep. Mike Collins, also voted before the two debated that evening. Both races are among the most closely watched nationally, with control implications for the Senate drawing heavy turnout and scrutiny over election administration.
