Warnock-Walker Runoff: What To Know As Early Voting Approaches

GEORGIA — Early voting is nearing as Georgians will once again go to the polls and cast their votes in the 2022 midterm runoff between Democrat U.S. Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker. Democrats have already secured the majority in the Senate but the Georgia runoff will determine whether that will be a 51-49 majority or an evenly split body once more.

Neither Warnock nor Walker reached the required 50 percent plus one vote on Nov. 8 to avoid a runoff, which is being held Dec. 6.

Warnock reached 49.42 percent (1,941,763 votes) while Walker reached 48.52 percent (1,906,320 votes). Chase Oliver, the Libertarian candidate, garnered 2.07 percent of the vote (81,187 votes). Oliver is not in the runoff.

Early voting begins Monday, Nov. 28 and last until Friday, Dec. 2. Voters should check with their local elections office to determine which precincts are available for early voting.

There will be no early voting on Dec. 3-5, according to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office.

Anyone who is registered to vote in Georgia is eligible to participate in the runoff. People had until Nov. 7 to register to vote in the runoff.

To vote in-person, people will need to show identification.

The following identifications are accepted for voting:

• Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID issued by your county registrar's office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services
• A Georgia driver's license, even if expired
• Student ID from a Georgia public college or university
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state

• Valid U.S. passport ID
• Valid U.S. military photo ID containing a photograph of the voter
• Valid tribal photo ID containing a photograph of the voter

More information on voting ID requirements, including for absentee ballots, can be found here.

The Secretary of State's office is mandating absentee ballot applications be returned to local elections offices by Nov. 28 due to Thanksgiving.

Ballots need to be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Find more information here on how to request and return absentee ballots.

Voters can find information for their local elections office on the Secretary of State's website.