Nearly 128,000 have already cast ballots in Georgia's upcoming 6th Congressional District runoff, as early voting ends today ahead of Tuesday's Election Day.
The turnout ahead of the nationally watched runoff between Republican Karen Handel and Democrat Jon Ossoff has surprised both pundits and local election officials, who say the numbers are almost unprecedented for a special election. The runoff early vote total has also easily more than doubled the 55,000-early-vote total ahead of the race's original April 18 special election.
In that contest, nearly 194,000 people voted overall. This time, turnout predictions have topped 200,000, with some election directors predicting a higher early voting turnout for the race than on Tuesday, which is Election Day.
For now, the number of early voters for the runoff stood at 127,968 as of Friday morning, according to date from the Secretary of State’s Office. That number includes both in-person early voters as well as returned absentee-by-mail ballots.
How to vote early
Check where to vote before you go. These are not your regular neighborhood polling places. The municipalities only open select sites during the early-voting period.
Use the Secretary of State Office's personalized online "my voter page" website (www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do) to find more information and confirm your registration status.
Or call your local elections office to find early-voting locations or look for the "advance voting info" link under the elections tab of the Secretary of State Office's website (www.sos.ga.gov).
Don’t forget to bring photo identification, which can include a Georgia driver’s license, even if it’s expired; a state-issued voter identification card; a valid U.S. passport; or a valid U.S. military photo ID.
No “ballot selfies” are allowed at the polls, so wait to snap a photo until you’re outside. It is illegal in Georgia to take pictures of a ballot or voting equipment, but the Secretary of State Office has said it has seen voters in previous elections post “ballot selfies” on social media — something that could get you in trouble with the law.
Information about local elections can also be found on the free “GA SOS” app for your smartphone via iTunes or Google Play for Android.
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