Early Voting To Kick Off In GA: 5 Things To Know

The governor's seat is on the line as early voters start heading to the polls for the 2026 general election Tuesday in Georgia.

Also on the state ballot is the U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff's seat, a position the Democratic candidate has held since January 2021.

Candidates must clear the required 50 percent plus one vote threshold to avoid a runoff.

Patch has compiled all you need to know to help you prepare:

When Can I Vote?

The registration deadline passed on Oct. 5 for the Nov. 3 election. If there is a runoff, it will be held on Dec. 1.

Early voting will run through Oct. 30. Georgia will host Saturday voting on Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, while optional Sunday voting is scheduled for Oct. 18 and Oct. 25.

Generally, polling places are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays during early voting.

On Election Day, polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. According to the Secretary of State's office, as long as people are in line by 7 p.m., they will be allowed to vote.

How Do I Know If I Am Eligible To Vote?

Voters should go to the My Voter Page to determine their eligibility to vote and to locate their polling place and early voting location. Voters can also confirm their current addresses and view sample ballots.

Georgia voters can check the Secretary of State's website for races on the ballot in their county.

What Do I Need To Vote?

Georgia's law requires photo ID while voting — either in-person or absentee.

The following identifications are accepted for voting, according to the Secretary of State's office:

• A Georgia driver's license, even if expired
• Student ID from a Georgia public college or university
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state
• Valid U.S. passport ID
• Valid U.S. military photo ID containing a photograph of the voter
• Valid tribal photo ID containing a photograph of the voter

What If I Want To Request An Absentee Ballot?

The last day to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 23. Absentee ballots need to be returned before polls close on Election Day to be counted.

Voters have several options to request absentee ballots and for returning the completed ballots, including by mail or in person.

Ballots must be received by the time polls close on Election Day to count.

RELATED:

• GA Voter Guide 2026: Governor, Ossoff's Senate Seat Among Key Races

• Early Voting For GA Primary 2026 Begins: What To Know

Who Are The Candidates?

Fresh faces entered the gubernatorial race this year due to Gov. Brian Kemp's ineligibility to run for a third term.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson are the last two standing in the race.

Ahead of the primaries in May, businessman Jackson spoke of his humble roots and voiced his desire to "bring business solutions to Georgia just like (President Donald) Trump did."

Not long ago, Jackson eagerly compared himself to his fellow billionaire in the Oval Office. He promised to be Trump “with a Southern tone.” And sharing a summer rally stage, Jackson pointed at the president and declared, “I’m going to be this man’s favorite governor.”

On the debate stage recently with his Democratic opponent, however, Jackson discussed Trump only when Bottoms brought him up. And he assured his audience that he’d “stand up to anybody.”

Bottoms served as Atlanta mayor from 2018-22. The former White House aide decided to try her hand at governor after the 2024 presidential election, she said at a past debate.

She is trying to reverse a losing streak in races for governor that began for Democrats in 2002.

Jackson has repeatedly attacked Bottoms over her tenure as Atlanta mayor.

“I grew up in the type of neighborhood Keisha Lance Bottoms abandoned," Jackson said at a summer campaign rally. “I know who gets hurt when politicians defund the police.”

In an interview with 11Alive, Bottoms emphasized that her administration gave pay raises to police and firefighters, and said she called for increased federal funding for public safety during her time as mayor.

For U.S. senator, challenger U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) is aiming to unseat Ossoff (D-GA).

Ossoff is one of two senators representing Georgia in Congress. He was first sworn into office in January 2021 following a runoff.

He runs on a platform supporting advanced health care for pregnant women and children, mental health care for veterans and funding for historically Black colleges and universities in the state.

A month from Election Day, Ossoff went from a top GOP target to a widely perceived favorite to defend a seat that Democrats cannot afford to lose as they try to regain a Senate majority.

Ossoff and his aides say the senator tries to deliver on every aspect of what Washington calls “constituent services.”

That could mean federal appropriations, disaster assistance or nuts-and-bolts matters like assisting a voter who is seeking Social Security disability benefits or a missing Social Security check. It includes surprise notes of congratulations or condolences to constituents — something Ossoff sends even to aides of Republican elected officials.

A longtime businessman, Collins is co-founder of a trucking company and serves the residents of Georgia's 10th congressional district.

During a recent debate, he reportedly voiced his opinion that "Bidenomics" led to the current inflation and said the Affordable Care Act is the contributing factor for increased health care costs.

At the debate, both Ossoff and Collins agreed Flock cameras are a violation of privacy, WABE reported.

“If they’re being abused, they shouldn’t be out there. And they are being abused,” Collins said. “If we’re gonna use them, then we need to have a warrant to access that information, otherwise we don’t need the Flock camera system. I’m a firm believer n privacy laws out there and protecting your privacy rights.”

Republicans had viewed Georgia early in the 2026 campaign as a potential firewall, should Democrats win in a critical number of states where Republican seats are on the ballot. Democrats must win a net of four seats to win back the majority (in the Senate).

More information on voting ID requirements, including for absentee ballots, can be found here.

Read more information on voting in Georgia here.

The Associated Press contributed reporting and writing.