Georgia voters shattered turnout records during the early voting period for the U.S. Senate runoff election between Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker. In fact, as of Saturday morning, 1,712,651 voters cast ballots during early voting and Friday’s total of 352,953 shattered the previous one-day record for early voting in the 2016 Presidential Election, where 252,715 voters cast their ballots. Today, those who have not voted will have one more chance to cast their ballots.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is recommending that those choosing to vote today in the runoff check their My Voter Page to see their registration, sample ballot, and polling place before they go to vote.
“We’re seeing very high levels of voter turnout and I want every voter in Georgia to have the best experience possible,” said Raffensperger. “I urge everyone to verify their polling place.”
Under Georgia law, voters are required to bring a state-issued photo ID. For most, that’s usually a driver’s license, but any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free ID card issued by a county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).
Voters can also use:
• Georgia driver’s license, even if it’s expired or a current ID issued by another state.
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the US Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state.
• Valid US passport ID.
• Valid US military photo ID containing a photograph of the voter.
• Student photo ID card issued by a Georgia public (NOT PRIVATE) college, university, or technical school
• Valid tribal photo ID containing a photograph of the voter.
Raffensperger noted that Monday and Tuesday of last week’s early voting both showed totals above 300,000 ballots cast, with the lowest total of 286,000 voters going to the polls on Wednesday. Thursday’s total hit 298,000.
In-person turnout throughout the week reached 1,712,651 with total turnout reaching 1,852,593 including Absentee and Military voters. Turnout for the 2022 Runoff has now reached 26.4 percent of active Georgia voters. Georgia also achieved the record for midterm absentee-by-mail voting this year.
“Georgia has struck the perfect balance between accessibility and security,” said Raffensperger. “These historic turnout levels emphasize that any lawful voter who wants to cast a ballot can do so easily. Turnout and voter participation is excellent. Our elections division will continue working with county election directors to expand early voting opportunities in the future.”
