Early voting in runoff election now underway

Early voting ends at 5 p.m. Friday

Early voting got underway Saturday as voters return to the polls this month for the runoff election to settle a number of still-undecided races on both sides of the primary ballot.

Because Georgia law requires winning candidates in any contested race to gain 50% percent of the vote, rather than a plurality of votes, several races in last month’s primaries with more than two candidates were forced into a runoff, officially set for June 16.

Such races include six contests on the Republican ballot and four on the Democrat ticket.

GOP voters will choose between current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and billionaire businessman Rick Jackson for governor, in a hotly contested race that has dominated the attention of the state, based on ad dollars spent, at least.

The Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate is also undecided, as current U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and Derek Dooley, football coach and son of legendary Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, vie for the chance to battle Sen. Jon Ossoff for his seat in Congress.

In the lieutenant governor’s race, Greg Dolezal and John F. Kennedy are battling for the GOP nomination, while the secretary of state race has Tim Fleming and Vernon Jones going head to head in the runoff.

Incumbent state school superintendent is seeking re-election in the runoff against challenger Fred “Bubba” Longgrear, while Bobby Mehan and Josh Tolbert are both striving to become the Republican  candidate for the District 5 seat on the Public Service Commission.

Finally, in a more local race, Marc McMain is running for the District 46 seat in the state Senate against Doug McKillip.

Click or tap on this link for a sample ballot for the Republican Ticket

On the Democratic ticket, Josh McLaurin and Nabiliah Parkes are both still running for lieutenant governor, while Dana Barrett and Penny Brown Reynolds are still alive in the secretary of state race.

DeAndre Mathis and Keisha Sean Waites are vying for the insurance commissioner seat, while Nikki Porcher and Michelle Michi Sanchez each seek the Democratic ballot spot for labor commissioner.

Click or tap on this link for a sample ballot for the Democratic ticket

The polls opened Saturday and a week of early voting will then occur Monday to Friday , as voters can cast advance ballots daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Early voting locations remain the same, with three voting options in Felker Park in Monroe, Meridian Park in Loganville and the South Walton Community Room in Social Circle.

The formal runoff will occur on Tuesday, June 16, to determine the final candidates for the general election to be held on Nov. 2.