Georgia entered Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with its midterm outcome already partly written: a record 2,827,060 Georgians cast ballots early, the most ever recorded in the state before a midterm Election Day, according to an unofficial total from the Georgia Secretary of State's office. Early voting ran from October 13 to October 30, and it accounted for 37.5 percent of the state's total voting population, a surge that put Georgia among the most closely watched battlegrounds in a national election that will decide control of Congress.

Key Points

• Georgia recorded 2,827,060 early votes, a new state record for a midterm election.
• Early ballots made up 37.5 percent of Georgia's total voting population.
• Turnout topped 40 percent in some greater Atlanta metro counties.
• Senator Jon Ossoff faces Republican Mike Collins, while Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms contest the governor's race.
• All 14 Georgia seats in the U.S. House are also on Tuesday's ballot.

What Happened

The scale of the early vote became clear as Georgia's Election Day live coverage opened on Tuesday morning, with the Secretary of State's Election Data Hub tally showing more than 2.82 million ballots already banked before a single Election Day polling place opened. The total was described as a new record for the Peach State.

The geography of that turnout tells its own story. Participation was strongest in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area, where early voting exceeded 40 percent of the voting population in some counties. Several smaller counties, including Towns, Oconee, Greene and Union, also reported high early turnout, while the lowest rates came from rural counties in Middle Georgia. The pattern points to a contest that will be fought hardest in the suburbs around Atlanta, where statewide races in Georgia have repeatedly been decided in recent cycles.

Early voters also reflected the state's diversity: 837,081 Black voters, 252,017 voters recorded as unidentified non-white, 82,305 Hispanic or Latino voters, and 68,264 Asian or Pacific Islander voters cast ballots early, according to the unofficial breakdown.

Background and Context

Georgia's record did not arrive by accident. The state has become one of the central prizes of American politics, a former Republican stronghold that has turned into a genuine swing state, and both parties have spent years building early-vote operations there. Nationally, more than 57 million Americans had already voted early ahead of Tuesday, according to Associated Press reporting.

Tuesday's election decides all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats, along with governorships in 36 states. Republicans entered the day holding narrow majorities in both chambers, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats in each chamber to take control.

The governor's race carries its own weight. Republican Brian Kemp cannot seek another term, so the open contest to succeed him will shape Georgia's direction on taxes, education, health care and election administration for the next four years, alongside down-ballot offices including lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general.

Georgia Early Voting Record

The Georgia early voting record matters because it changes what Election Day itself means. When more than a third of the voting population has already cast a ballot, the campaigns' final task shifts from persuasion to turnout: making sure supporters who have not yet voted actually reach a polling place, and watching for problems at the polls rather than trying to change minds at the last minute.

Record early voting also complicates the usual election-night narrative. A large pool of early ballots, counted alongside Election Day votes, means close races may take time to settle, particularly where mail ballots arrive late or margins are narrow. Officials have repeatedly cautioned that a delay in a close contest is not, by itself, evidence of anything wrong.

For the campaigns, the record total signals enthusiasm, not a prediction. Early totals show how many people voted, not how they voted, so both parties spent the final days urging remaining supporters to vote on Tuesday rather than treating the early numbers as a result.

Reactions and the Races to Watch

The marquee race is the Senate contest, where Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff is seeking re-election against Republican challenger Mike Collins. The race has drawn national attention and heavy spending, and it is widely seen as one of the contests that could decide Senate control. Former President Barack Obama headlined a closing rally for Ossoff and Bottoms outside Atlanta.

The governor's race pits Republican Rick Jackson against Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, to succeed Kemp. Jackson made a final plea to Georgia voters on Tuesday morning, according to the state's live election coverage, closing a campaign fought over the cost of living, public safety and the state's economic direction.

Beyond the top of the ticket, five major contests appear on every Georgia ballot: Senate, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general. Republican Greg Dolezal faces Democrat Josh McLaurin for lieutenant governor; Republican Tim Fleming faces Democrat Penny Brown Reynolds for secretary of state; and Republican Brian Strickland faces Democrat Tanya Miller for attorney general. All 14 U.S. House seats are also contested.

Why It Matters

Georgia's early voting record is a measure of civic engagement in a state where voting access has itself been fiercely contested. A record midterm turnout before Election Day suggests that, whatever voters think of the choices on offer, they are turning out in large numbers to make them.

The result will also be read nationally. If Ossoff holds his seat, Democrats will point to it as proof their Georgia coalition endures; if Collins wins, Republicans will claim a decisive gain in their effort to keep the Senate. Either way, the governor's race will set the tone for Georgia politics into the next decade.

What Happens Next

Polls close across Georgia on Tuesday evening, and counting will continue into the night. Close races may not be called immediately, and results will be certified in the days that follow, with winners taking office in January 2027, when the new Congress convenes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Georgians voted early in 2026?

A total of 2,827,060 Georgians cast ballots early, according to an unofficial total from the Secretary of State's office, equal to 37.5 percent of the state's total voting population.

When did early voting run in Georgia?

Early voting ran from October 13 to October 30, 2026, with ballots cast in person or by mail.

Who is running for Senate in Georgia?

Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff faces Republican challenger Mike Collins in the race that could help decide control of the U.S. Senate.

Who is running for governor of Georgia?

Republican Rick Jackson faces Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms to succeed Governor Brian Kemp.

When will Georgia's results be known?

Results will emerge through Tuesday night, but close races may take longer to call as officials count Election Day ballots alongside the record early vote.

Related coverage: Abortion on the ballot in four states on Election Day, Election Day polls open under close watch, and FBI post wrongly said Election Day was Wednesday.