Georgia voters will head to the polls Tuesday for the runoff elections in several key primary midterm races, including senator and governor.
Georgia does have open primaries, meaning voters can choose which party’s primary ballot they want when they vote.
Recommended Videos
But for the runoff, voters must stick with the ballot they chose during last month’s primary.
So that means:
- Voters who chose a Democratic ballot in the general primary can only vote a Democratic ballot in the primary runoff.
- Voters who chose a Republican ballot in the general primary can only vote a Republican ballot in the primary runoff.
- Eligible voters who did not vote in the general primary or who voted a Nonpartisan ballot can choose a Democratic or Republican ballot in the primary runoff.
Georgia voter George Kramer said he views participating in elections as both a responsibility and a privilege in a democracy. He said casting a ballot is something he does not take for granted.
“Voting is a great honor. We’ve got the freedom in this country to vote, and I think that’s a great, great asset to our country,” Kramer said. “A lot of people want change, you know? And one way to get it is at the ballot box. So I encourage people to come out and vote and do their freedom of choice to vote for who they think would be the best candidate.”
Kramer also pointed to the stakes of the races on the ballot Tuesday, saying the decisions will help shape leadership at both the state and local levels.
“Very important positions, powerful positions for our state,” Kramer said." I look forward to seeing the results and hope it turns out well for our area and our state."
Governor
With Republican incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp term-limited, Georgia voters will decide Tuesday whether to send healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson or current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to face off against former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.
Bottoms easily cruised to victory in the Democratic primary last month.
Jackson spent more than twice as much as any other primary candidate in Georgia history, but it’s Jones who has earned an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
U.S. Senate
Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff will soon learn who his opponent will be in November.
The top two finishers in last month’s Republican primary -- Rep. Mike Collins and former college football coach Derek Dooley -- have advanced to Tuesday’s runoff.
Georgia voters have had a week to cast an early, in-person ballot, but for those who have yet to
U.S. House
In a key race for Southeast Georgia, longtime Rep. Buddy Carter left the seat in coastal Georgia’s 1st District that he’s held for a decade open when he opted to run for U.S. Senate.
The 1st District includes Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, Pierce and Ware counties.
Jim Kingston, the son of longtime U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, won the Republican primary, but the Democratic primary went to a runoff between Joyce Griggs and Amanda Hollowell.
Carter finished third behind Collins and Dooley in the U.S. Senate Republican primary and did not qualify for the June runoff in that race.
In the 11th District northwest of Atlanta, Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk announced his retirement and endorsed staffer Rob Adkerson, who will now face a runoff against neurologist John Cowan for the Republican nomination.
The winner will face Democratic candidate Chris Harden.
Casting a ballot
On General Primary Runoff Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You must vote at your assigned precinct, which is the same as any other Election Day, and show one of the following forms of identification:
- Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
- 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
News4JAX has compiled information about all of the races on the primary ballot in our 2026 Georgia Voter’s Guide.