Georgia voters are once again expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming presidential election, despite facing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Both Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump have visited the state to assess the damage and meet with affected residents. The impact of the hurricane on the election, including the state’s voting infrastructure, remains uncertain and will likely only be fully understood after Election Day. In the previous election, Georgia played a crucial role as Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1992, winning by a narrow margin.
The ongoing criminal case in Fulton County, where Trump is trying to overturn the election results, has put the spotlight on District Attorney Fani Willis. The case is currently on hold as Trump’s legal team seeks to have Willis removed from the case. Willis is also seeking re-election on the November ballot. Georgia’s governor and U.S. senators are not up for election this year, but all 56 state Senate and 180 state House seats are up for election. Democrats aim to chip away at the Republican majorities in the state Legislature, although Georgia is not listed as a top target for them in November.
In the 2024 election in Georgia, key races include the presidential race between Harris, Trump, and third-party candidates, as well as U.S. House, Atlanta Judicial Circuit District Attorney, state Senate, state House, and ballot measures. The state allows county election officials to begin tabulating mail ballots on Election Day, which may lead to an early lead for the Democratic candidate in close contests. In the 2022 U.S. Senate race, mail and early in-person votes favored the Democratic incumbent initially, but the margin tightened as more votes were counted.
Georgia’s State Election Board recently adopted a new rule requiring poll workers to hand count paper ballots at polling sites, although a judge blocked the rule in October. The state’s population centers, including Atlanta, are crucial for both Republicans and Democrats in statewide elections. Republicans tend to perform well in smaller rural counties, while Democrats have strong support in urban areas. The Associated Press does not make projections and will declare a winner only when no scenario allows trailing candidates to overcome the gap.
There is no automatic recount provision in Georgia, but losing candidates can request a recount if the margin is within 0.5% of the total vote. Past presidential results in Georgia have been closely contested, with voter turnout reaching about 65% in the 2020 election. Mail-in and early voting have become increasingly significant in Georgia elections, with about 64% of the total vote cast before Election Day in 2022. The vote-counting process has been a subject of concern, with new rules and legal challenges impacting the timeline. The AP continues to cover election developments to provide accurate and timely information to the public.
