Georgia early voting begins for primary runoffs ahead of June 16 Election Day

MACON, Ga. (WGXA) — Early voting is underway across Georgia for the state’s primary runoff elections, part of a final week of campaigning before voters head to the polls.

The runoffs will determine the major-party candidates for the upcoming general election, following a primary last month where some candidates did not receive a majority of the vote.

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Key races include the Republican contest for governor, featuring Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and businessman Rick Jackson. The candidate who wins the runoff will face the Democratic nominee, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, in the fall.

Republicans are also deciding their nominee to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff. This race is between U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley.

Other runoffs include contests for lieutenant governor. On the Democratic side, Josh McLaurin and Nabila Parks are competing for the nomination. The Republican runoff is between Greg Dolezal and John F. Kennedy.

Georgia Secretary of State GOP candidates Tim Fleming and Vernon Jones are included in the runoff. The winner of the two will challenge the Democratic nominee, either Dana Barrett or Penny Reynolds, who are also in a runoff.

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Candidates Marshall Talley and Ron Lemon are on the ballot in the upcoming Bibb County runoff election for the District 2 seat on the Macon Water Authority Board.

Incumbent Monroe County Commissioner Al Turner is also in a Republican primary runoff election with William Kerry Osborne for the District 4 seat.

“I think every election is important,” Said Thomas Gillon, Election Supervisor for Bibb County. “The party you picked for the May election is the party you would need to be voting for this election. If you voted non-partisan in the May election, you can vote for any party in the runoff, but we had about a little over 21,000 people vote in May. I’d like to see at least that many people come out to vote for this one.”

Gillon explained there are three locations to vote in Bibb County: the main office at the Macon Mall (3661 Eisenhower Pkwy, STE MB101), Elaine H. Lucas Senior Center (132 Willie Smokie Glover Drive) and Theron Ussery Community Center (815 N Macon Park Drive). This goes until 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

Under state law, voters who cast a ballot in the initial primary must vote in the same party’s runoff. Registered voters who did not vote in the primary are eligible to participate and may choose either party’s ballot.

State election officials encourage voters to check their designated polling locations and hours, which can vary by county during early voting. Voters can verify their registration status and find their precinct by visiting the official Georgia My Voter Page online.

Election Day is Tuesday, June 16.

Stick with WGXA as we keep you ready for what’s next.