Polls open in Georgia Senate runoff election

Voters have until 7:00PM to vote

Herschel Walker and Raphael Warnock

It is 7:00AM on this soggy Tuesday morning, and polls have officially opened in the runoff election for U.S. Senate.

Today, voters will decide between Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker in a race to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate for the next six years.

The runoff was required to be held after neither candidate earned more than 50% of the vote in November.

Democrats retained their razor-thin Senate majority in the November midterm elections. So while Tuesday’s contest will not tip the balance of power, it could be important in determining things like the fate of President Biden’s judicial nominees and the composition of Senate committees.

The two candidates have offered diverging themes in the closing days. Warnock has said that the race is about character and fitness for office, while Walker is continuing to frame the race as a referendum on President Joe Biden.

Heavy hitters in both parties have taken interest in the race. Former President Barack Obama campaigned with Warnock in Atlanta last week. And Donald Trump is set to hold a telephone rally with Walker just before the polls close.

Democrats are privately optimistic about their apparent advantage from early voting, as numbers appear to show an electorate that is more diverse than the general election. But Republicans are hoping for a huge election day turnout in places like the far-reaching corners of North Georgia — which they believe will offset those Democratic advantages.

More than 1.8 million Georgians have already voted — and thousands more have voted absentee by mail. Those who have not yet cast a ballot have until 7:00PM this evening to do so.

Unlike early voting, you will not be able to vote anywhere in your county on Tuesday. Voters must cast their ballot at their local polling precinct on election day.