Georgia Records Highest First-Day Early Voting Turnout Ever
Georgia voters set a record on the first day of early voting for the 2026 midterms, with over 188,600 ballots cast in person.
Nearly 188,600 people cast ballots in person on Tuesday, October 13, marking the highest first-day early voting turnout in Georgia history. This figure represents an increase of over 53,000 votes compared to the 2022 record of 135,000. Additionally, the state has accepted over 10,200 absentee ballots, while 130,000 more have been requested.
Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia Secretary of State, attributed the surge to voter confidence in the integrity of the state's election system. This cycle introduces a new security measure requiring poll workers to handwrite each voter's name on a numbered list following electronic check-in to maintain accurate paper records. Early voting remains open through October 30, leading up to Election Day on November 3.
Beyond races for governor and two U.S. Senate seats, voters are deciding on three constitutional amendments. Among these is Amendment 3, which would create the Georgia Next Generation 911 Fund to modernize emergency services. The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency reported that 88% of the state's 911 centers still use infrastructure from the 1960s, a vulnerability highlighted by recent technical disruptions in Atlanta.
