Georgia midterm elections see record early voting as candidates make final push

Georgia midterm elections are underway, and candidates are vying for votes in the last few weeks leading up to election day.

Political strategist Omar Ali said Georgia’s crossover voters make it a critical state for both parties.

“And so in Georgia, you have a lot of crossover votes,” Ali said. “And so if the right message is sent, it can go either way.”

Ali said increased costs due to federal policies could encourage voters to go to the polls.

“So we’re feeling that across the entire nation. And so Republicans and Democrats are feeling that,” Ali said.

Georgia will yet again see some high-profile visitors in the coming weeks as candidates make a last ditch effort to gain supporters. Former President Barack Obama is coming in a week to campaign for U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff and Democratic candidate for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

President Donald Trump will head to Macon this Saturday to once again campaign for Republican candidates in the state. However, that does not include Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson.

The Georgia Recorder reports that Jackson will be campaigning in suburban Atlanta, and a spokesperson for his campaign said his absence was part of a strategy to increase voter turnout in the state. 

A Civiqs poll reports that Trump’s approval rating is at 33% in Georgia, and an Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll shows that 55% of likely Georgia voters disapprove of the president’s performance.

Ali said Trump’s support is being used to garner Republican votes and inspire people to cast a ballot.

“Most Republicans think that there’s no chance whatsoever that Mayor Bottoms will win. And because of that, they’re not as motivated,” Ali said. “And so they are using President Trump in areas that is heavy MAGA base to motivate the rural areas to get out to vote.”

Georgia voters once again broke an early voting record reaching more than one million in-person early votes by noon Tuesday. At the same time during the 2022 midterm elections, nearly 900,000 Georgians had voted. That is a 12% increase in voter turnout over the last midterm elections.

In addition, 48,916 absentee ballots have been accepted by noon Tuesday bringing the total count to 1,055,931 votes.

Early voting continues through Oct. 30, and information about polling locations and times can be found at mvp.sos.ga.gov.