Georgia votes Tuesday to pick its next senator and governor

Voters in all 159 Georgia counties opened their polling places at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, to decide the state's two most high-profile federal and state races. The polls close at 7 p.m., and anyone standing in line by that hour has the legal right to cast a ballot.

The election marks the culmination of a campaign cycle that saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on advertising and sharp attacks between the two major parties. The outcome will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate and who occupies the governor's mansion.

At the top of the ticket, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff faces U.S. Rep. Mike Collins in a fight for the open Senate seat. Ossoff is seeking his first reelection, while Collins, a member of the House, is challenging the incumbent. Collins gained national attention as the author of the Laken Riley Act, the first bill signed into law by President Donald Trump during his second term.

The Senate race has been defined by a stark contrast in campaign messaging. Ossoff has consistently attacked Collins for his close alignment with the Trump administration, labeling his opponent an extremist and a white supremacist following the primary runoff. Collins has responded by portraying Ossoff as an out-of-touch figure aligned with Hollywood and East Coast elites.

Despite polling data showing low approval ratings for President Trump, Collins has leaned into his relationship with the former president. The two shared stages at recent rallies in Dalton and Perry. Collins has continued to promote his alliance with Trump throughout the final week of the campaign.

Down the ballot, the governor's race pits former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms against billionaire businessman Rick Jackson. Bottoms is seeking to become the first Black female governor in the United States. She has centered her campaign on economic issues and civil rights, criticizing Jackson for his pledge to be President Trump's favorite governor.

Jackson, who defeated Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones in the Republican primary, has campaigned on a platform of conservative fiscal policies. He has proposed slashing state income taxes, freezing property tax increases, and reducing the cost of health care. He has described Bottoms as a failed urban executive who left Atlanta after serving only one term.

Voters also face decisions on state constitutional offices, competitive U.S. House districts, and the balance of power in the Georgia General Assembly. The election requires voters to verify their assigned precinct, as unlike early voting, Election Day voting is restricted to specific neighborhood locations.

Georgia law requires voters to present an approved government-issued photo ID upon check-in. Acceptable forms include a Georgia driver's license, even if expired, a valid U.S. passport, or a valid employee photo ID from any branch of government. A free voter ID card issued by a county registrar or the Department of Driver Services is also valid.

Those with unreturned mail-in absentee ballots must deliver them by hand to their county registrar's office before 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Ballots received after that time will not be counted, regardless of their postmark. Voters who wish to vote in person instead of by mail must bring their unvoted paper ballot to their polling site so election workers can cancel it on the spot.