Polling places opened for the first day of early voting Tuesday as Georgia prepares for another tour as one of America’s most hotly contested states.

The state’s 8.2 million registered voters will consider important races up and down the ballot. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are locked in a tight race for the presidency — with polling showing Georgia is one of a handful of states that could determine the outcome. Voters also will consider state legislative races and transit referendums in two metro Atlanta counties.

Georgia counties will offer at least 16 days of early in-person voting in advance of the Nov. 5 general election — some also offer additional Sunday voting. The final day of early in-person voting will be Nov. 1, the Friday before Election Day.

Early voting begins at Joan P. Garner Library at Ponce De Leon in Atlanta on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, in Atlanta.   John Spink / AJC

Credit: John Spink

icon to expand image

Credit: John Spink

Hours and locations differ by county. Registered voters can find polling places, sample ballots and other information at the secretary of state’s My Voter Page.

Georgia also offers no-excuse absentee voting, allowing any registered voter to return a ballot by mail to local election offices or to authorized ballot drop boxes. They must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Election officials are asking voters to return ballots well in advance to avoid potential delays with the U.S. Postal Service.

And, of course, voters can cast their ballots in person on Election Day.

If recent history is an indication, a majority of Georgians will vote early in person, with a sizable portion waiting until Election Day and a much smaller number casting absentee ballots.

About the Author

Keep Reading

State Elections Director Blake Evans (left), shown speaking to the Senate Ethics Committee in Atlanta in 2023, defended Georgia's participation in the voter registration accuracy organization called ERIC on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Featured

State Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth, introduces himself while attending an AAPI mental health event at Norcross High School on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray