More than 2.5 million Georgians have cast early ballots ahead of Election Day, setting a midterm record with a single day of early voting remaining, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. Friday marks the final opportunity for voters to cast ballots prior to polls opening on Tuesday.
Record Turnout Driven by In-Person Voting
Figures cited Friday from DeKalb County indicate that the surge stems overwhelmingly from voters showing up at polling places rather than relying on mail-in methods. Approximately 2.4 million of the early ballots were cast in person. That total eclipses the previous midterm record of 2.2 million set in 2022.
Mail-in absentee voting tells a markedly different story, dropping by about half according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. Even with that significant decline in postal ballots, the sheer volume of in-person participation pushed total early turnout past the previous midterm cycle.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger noted earlier in the week that overall turnout was tracking roughly 5% to 7% higher than in 2022. This acceleration happened despite the current cycle featuring one fewer day of early voting.
Voters who skip the final day of early voting on Friday will have to wait until Election Day on Tuesday. State election officials urge anyone planning to vote Friday to verify their early voting hours and locations beforehand, as those sites may differ from assigned Election Day polling places. Citizens can confirm their registration and locate nearby polling stations directly through the Georgia My Voter Page, while broader historical tracking remains available via the Georgia Secretary of State Election Data Hub.
