If you’ve been scrolling through your feed lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines starting to swirl again. Georgia is back in the spotlight. It feels like we never really left, honestly. Whether it’s a high-stakes gubernatorial race or a local special election, the Georgia early voting numbers are basically the heartbeat of American politics right now.
But here’s the thing: everyone looks at these numbers, but hardly anyone actually knows what they mean for the average person standing in line at a library in Cobb County or a church in Macon.
The Current State of Play in Georgia
Right now, as we head into the 2026 cycle, the data coming out of the Secretary of State’s office is telling a fascinating story. You might remember the 2024 presidential election where records didn't just break—they were completely shattered. We saw over 4 million people cast ballots before Election Day even arrived. That was roughly 55.3% of the turnout happening early.
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Fast forward to today. We aren't in a presidential year, but the energy is still weirdly high. In the recent special election for State Senate District 18, for instance, we saw a steady trickle of early voters. It wasn't the millions we saw in 2024, but for a local race, the engagement is there. Thomas Gillon, the supervisor for the Macon-Bibb County Board of Elections, recently noted that while these smaller races aren't as "publicized," they are the true test of the state's new voting infrastructure.
Why does this matter? Because Georgia has become the "gold standard"—or the "lightning rod," depending on who you ask—for early voting. With at least 17 days of mandatory early voting and two required Saturdays, the opportunities to cast a ballot are everywhere.
Georgia Early Voting Numbers: The Shift in Who is Showing Up
One of the most interesting trends buried in the spreadsheets is who is actually using these early windows. For a long time, the narrative was that early voting was a Democratic stronghold. Republicans liked to vote on Tuesday; Democrats liked to vote early or by mail.
That script got flipped.
In the 2024 cycle, and continuing into the early data for 2026, we’ve seen a massive surge in Republican early voting. According to data from Data Trust, modeled Republicans actually outperformed Democrats in early turnout across several key demographics.
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- Rural voters increased their share of the total vote.
- Republican women showed up at a higher rate (about 6.9% higher) than Democratic women in the early windows.
- Younger Republicans (18-34) saw their participation jump significantly.
It’s almost like the "Election Day only" mantra is fading away. People just want to get it over with. You’ve got a job, you’ve got kids, you’ve got a life—waiting until Tuesday is a gamble.
The Demographic Divide and the "Racial Turnout Gap"
It’s not all record-breaking sunshine, though. There’s a serious conversation happening right now about the racial turnout gap. The Brennan Center for Justice recently highlighted a worrying trend: the gap between white and Black voter participation in Georgia grew by about 3 percentage points recently.
Basically, while total numbers are high, the growth isn't equal. Black turnout, particularly among men under 50, has seen a bit of a drop-off compared to previous highs. Only about 71% of Black men under 50 who voted in 2020 returned to the polls in the subsequent major cycles. Compare that to 81% for white men in the same age bracket.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger often points to the "trifecta" of Georgia's system—automatic registration, 17 days of early voting, and no-excuse absentee—as proof that it’s "easy to vote." But advocates like those at the Brennan Center argue that shifting rules and ID requirements still create hurdles that hit some communities harder than others.
What to Watch for in the 2026 Numbers
As we move toward the May primaries and the November general election, keep your eyes on the "check-in" counts. These are the daily updates the state provides.
- The Saturday Sprints: Look at the turnout on the two mandatory Saturdays. This is usually when working-class voters show up in force.
- The Absentee Shift: Watch if mail-in ballots continue to decline. In 2024, only about 242,620 people voted by mail compared to the millions who went in person. Georgians seem to prefer the "I Voted" sticker they get in person.
- The Suburban Swing: Counties like Gwinnett and Forsyth are the true bellwethers. If the Georgia early voting numbers there start leaning heavily one way early on, it usually signals the mood of the entire state.
How to Check Your Status and Join the Count
Honestly, the best way to not get overwhelmed by the "horse race" of the numbers is to just make sure you’re part of them. The Secretary of State’s "My Voter Page" (MVP) is still the best tool for this. You can see your specific early voting locations, which can sometimes be different from your Election Day precinct.
Steps to take right now:
- Verify your registration: Don't wait until the week of the election. Georgia has a 30-day cutoff.
- Locate your early voting site: Some counties consolidate early voting into just a few hubs rather than every local precinct.
- Check the hours: Not every site is open until 7:00 PM during the early period; many close at 5:00 PM.
The data suggests that once someone votes early, they become a "propensity voter"—meaning they are way more likely to keep voting in every election. Whether you’re trying to beat the crowds or just want to make sure your voice is heard before the late-October chaos hits, the early window is your best bet.
Keep an eye on the daily check-ins as we hit the 2026 primary season. Those numbers aren't just stats; they’re the first look at the future of the state.