ATLANTA, Ga. — Early voting began Tuesday in a Georgia midterm that could help decide control of the U.S. Senate, with Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff facing Republican Rep. Mike Collins in the most closely watched race on the ballot.
Ossoff is seeking a second term in a state President Donald Trump carried two years ago, making the contest a national focal point. The candidates held their first televised statewide debate last week and are scheduled for another meeting Tuesday as in-person early voting opens.
The same ballot asks Georgians to fill open seats for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state. Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms are competing for the governor’s office after staging one joint town hall last week.
All 14 Georgia U.S. House seats are also up, including four open seats, along with every seat in the General Assembly. Election officials say voters should confirm registration and early voting sites on the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page because county hours and locations vary.
In-person early voting runs through Oct. 30. Absentee-by-mail applications are due by the close of business Oct. 23, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
Collins and Jackson are both expected at Trump’s Friday rally in Dalton, tying the national party brand to Georgia’s top-of-ticket races during the first week ballots can be cast statewide.
Secretary of State guidance urges voters who have moved or changed names to update records before casting a ballot, and counties are staffing early sites for three weeks of in-person voting.
