Georgia’s presidential primary is Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know.
Finally, Georgia votes for president on Tuesday, one of four states with primary elections that could lock up the nominations for President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Even with the outcome virtually decided, there are a combined 14 candidates on Republican and Democratic ballots. Election day will show how much support the front-runners receive and where Georgia stands heading into the general election campaign.
Both Trump and Biden campaigned in Georgia this weekend, rallying their supporters heading into the big day.
What’s at stake?
Georgia’s presidential primary will award delegates who will choose the Democratic and Republican nominees for president at party conventions this summer.
In the four states with primaries Tuesday — Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington — there are a combined 161 delegates at stake.
Trump could become the presumptive Republican nominee if he wins enough delegates. He is currently 140 delegates short of the number needed to secure the nomination, according to The Associated Press.
Biden needs 102 more delegates to become the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Georgia’s election results award 108 Democratic delegates and 59 Republican delegates.
Who’s on the ballot?
A total of 14 candidates are in the running in Georgia, including many candidates who have already suspended their campaigns.
Voters who choose a Republican ballot will be able to pick from 11 candidates, including Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Three candidates are on the Democratic ballot: Biden, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson.
The Republican and Democratic parties chose whose names would appear on the ballot in November, before any state’s primary.
The Georgia Republican Party kept a large field on the ballot despite pushback from the secretary of state’s office, which warned that including candidates who have suspended their campaigns could lead to voter confusion.
All registered voters can vote in either party’s primary, according to Georgia law.
Will turnout be low?
About 440,000 people have already cast their ballots during three weeks of early voting or through absentee-by-mail voting.
The crowded Republican race has drawn more interest among candidates seeking to challenge Biden in November. About 284,000 voters have chosen Republican ballots, compared with over 155,000 Democratic ballots cast.
Election officials expect most voters to show up Tuesday. In the 2016 presidential primary, 1.6 million voters participated on election day, and 800,000 turned out on election day in 2020.
Overall turnout reached 2 million in each of the past two Georgia presidential primaries.
Voting locations will be open across Georgia from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voters can find their precincts through the state’s My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov.
Election 2024 includes two primaries
The 2024 election year will include two primaries for voters in metro Atlanta and Georgia. The presidential primary is set for March 12, one week after Super Tuesday primaries in a number of states.
The second primary in Georgia will be May 21 for candidates seeking state and local offices and U.S. Congress. The ballot will also include candidates for county commission and the Georgia Legislature, among others, and some local referendums.
Presidential primary information: Candidate Issues Guide | Where do I vote?
Here are key dates for the state and local primary:
- March 4-8: Candidates file paperwork to qualify for the primary. See an updated list of candidates who have submitted paperwork.
- March 4: The first date voters can request absentee ballots.
- April 22: Voter registration deadline.
- April 29: Early in-person voting begins.
- May 21: Election day for the state and local primary. Runoff date would be June 18.
Learn more: Follow state and congressional election news, and the presidential race, on our Politics page. News about city and county elections is on the Metro Atlanta page. Coverage and information will also be found in AJC print and ePaper editions.
About the Author
Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.
