Georgia Voter Polls Open for Election Day 2026

Voter polls officially opened across Georgia at 7 a.m. on Election Day, with citizens heading to their assigned precincts to cast their ballots in a series of closely watched races that will help determine control of the U.S. Congress in 2027. Voters have until 7 p.m. to participate in an election cycle that features prominent statewide contests, local government positions, and three ballot amendments capable of altering state law.

The gubernatorial race features Republican businessman Rick Jackson and Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Both candidates spent the final hours of the campaign crisscrossing the state to rally support. Bottoms emphasized a platform focused on business, healthcare, and education while criticizing her opponent's alignment with former President Donald Trump, whom she labeled 'Trump with a Southern tone' during a stop in northwest Atlanta.

Jackson pushed back against his Democratic rival alongside Republican Governor Brian Kemp on a get-out-the-vote tour. Jackson attacked Bottoms' mayoral record, stating that she abandoned Atlanta during a critical time. Recent polling from InsiderAdvantage showed the race for governor tightly contested, with Jackson and Bottoms deadlocked at 49 percent and two percent of voters remaining undecided.

Meanwhile, the high-profile U.S. Senate race pits Democratic incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff against Republican U.S. Representative Mike Collins. The contest has centered heavily on discussions surrounding the cost of living, energy costs, foreign policy, and the economy. Campaigning in DeKalb County, Ossoff urged citizens to exercise their civic duty amid high inflation and record living expenses, emphasizing that participation is vital for democracy.

Representative Collins focused his final campaign efforts on criticizing his opponent's energy record. During a stop in Buckhead and later in south-central Georgia, Collins argued that current leadership has failed to secure energy independence and pointed to high gasoline prices and support for the Green New Deal as key issues. InsiderAdvantage polling indicated Ossoff leading Collins 53 percent to 46 percent, with one percent undecided.

State election officials have reported significant voter turnout, with early voting totals surpassing numbers recorded in both the 2018 and 2022 midterms. During the advance voting period, Fulton County alone registered over 328,000 ballots. However, Fulton County election officials also submitted a request to the Georgia Secretary of State's Office to publicly rescan slightly more than 1,000 ballots affected by scanner malfunctions at the Mechanicsville Library and the Hugh C. Conley Recreation Center.

Fulton County's Board of Registration and Elections scheduled an evening meeting to seek approval for the rescanning process, ensuring it would occur in public view to maintain transparency. As Election Day voting continues, state leaders and candidates from both parties continue to urge all eligible Georgians to visit their designated precinct before polls close at 7 p.m.