(The Center Square) – Georgia’s early voting totals broke a record set during the 2022 midterms.
Voter turnout was 2,830,083, with 2,705,257 of the ballots cast in person and the rest by absentee, according to the secretary of state’s office. In 2022, early voting turnout was 2,289,951.
Georgia has 7,531,457 registered voters. The numbers reflect a 37.6% voter turnout, according to the secretary of state’s office.
Voters over the age of 55 comprise about 18.8% of the early votes. More women went to the polls early than men, 56.5% to 43.3%, according to the interactive dashboard on the secretary of state’s website.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement last week that the numbers show that Georgians trust the system.
“This record-breaking in-person early voting turnout wouldn’t be possible without our county elections officials who work every day to ensure our elections are free, fair, and fast,” Raffensperger said.
The Center Square was unsuccessful in obtaining a comment from the secretary of state’s office.
Polls show the gubernatorial race between Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms is close, with Jackson holding a slight lead.
In the race for U.S. Senate, first-term Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, holds a lead in every poll over Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins.
Georgians have other statewide races on the ballot.
• Lieutenant governor: Republican Greg Dolezal and Democrat Josh McLaurin. Current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones ran for governor.
• Attorney general: Republican Brian Strickland and Democrat Tanya Miller. Attorney General Chris Carr ran for governor.
• Secretary of state: Republican Tim Fleming and Democrat Penny Brown Reynolds. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger ran for governor.
• Insurance commissioner: Incumbent Republican John King and Democrat Keisha Waites.
• Labor commissioner: Incumbent Republican Barbara Rivera Holmes and Democrat Nikki Porcher.
• Agriculture commissioner: Incumbent Republican Tyler Harper and Democrat Katherine Juhan-Arnold.
• Public Service Commissioner, District 3: Incumbent Democrat Peter Hubbard, who is facing a challenge from former Republican Public Service Commissioner Fitz Johnson.
• Public Service Commissioner, District 5: Democrat Sheila Edwards and Republican Josh Tolbert. Tricia Pridemore resigned to run for Congress.
Public service commissioners represent districts, but voters statewide determine who serves on the commission.
Georgians will also decide three constitutional amendments. Amendment One would increase “the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property” by increasing the partial property tax exemption from 2,000 to 4,000 acres.
Amendment Two would make probate judges races nonpartisan.
Amendment Three would allow the General Assembly to create the Next Generation 911 fund.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.