Atlanta Election Guide 2020
Latest Election Coverage
Atlanta is the center of the political universe
Welcome to Atlanta where the players play, and we ride in the fast lane of the American news highway. We don’t mean to brag, but when it comes to politics, Atlanta is pretty much the center of the universe: Politicians love us (or love to hate us), our celebs get voters to turn out (for what), and, most importantly, we’re the capital of Georgia, which has emerged as one of the biggest battleground states in the 2024 presidential election. Here’s a look at Atlanta’s headline-making moments over the last four years.
How a Fulton County poll worker is preparing for this year’s election
The 2020 presidential election started out normally enough for Fulton County poll workers. Angie Jones, a site manager, began her day at her voting location at five a.m. But before she prepared the Dominion voting machines or organized standing areas for poll watchers, Jones joined the entire poll worker team—assistant managers, clerks, and technicians alike—to recite and sign their respective state oaths. This ritual is done before every election, big and small, to promise that poll workers will “truly, impartially, and faithfully perform” their duties. “In 2020, the general election went smoothly for us, and nothing stood out as unusual,” Jones says. “[But] after we closed at seven p.m. and Donald Trump was losing Georgia, the focus was on us.”
How Georgia became “the premier battleground state,” according to the AJC’s Greg Bluestein
In his new book, Flipped, AJC political reporter Greg Bluestein breaks down how Georgia Democrats pulled off their 2020 triple victory. He chatted with us about chronicling the historic race and what's next for Georgia politics.
Fulton elections board votes to fire Director Rick Barron; fate remains in limbo
Despite support from staff and recent voting improvements, the board of registration and elections blames Director Rick Barron for past election struggles
Gabriel Sterling on death threats, the Dark Side, and America’s redemptive potential
You don’t expect someone with a title like “voting system implementation manager” to end up on 60 Minutes. But Gabriel Sterling was jolted into the national spotlight after disputing the deluge of misinformation regarding election integrity.
How politics impact our lives
In politically mixed friend groups, a lesson for navigating differences
Laura Phelan sees her small friend group as a microcosm of her church family—and perhaps a microcosm of the country, politically. One woman casts her vote according to convictions related to social justice and climate change; another is fiscally conservative and supports whichever party’s tax plan makes most sense for her family.
There’s a generational divide between Black Democrats. How will that play out at the polls—and at home?
Nationally, the political divide between younger and older Black voters is more vast than the divide between younger and older white ones. According to national polls conducted late this summer, white “likely voters” between the ages of 18 to 29 were more likely to support Biden than those over 65, but the opposite was true of Black voters: Biden had stronger support from older Blacks than from younger ones, with a wider margin separating them compared to their white counterparts.
It’s increasingly rare for a marriage to cross party lines. Can such couples offer us hope?
Going into the relationship, Dave and Jessica knew they had their differences. He’s Black, and she’s white. He’s a 50-year-old Gen Xer; she’s a 38-year-old Millennial. But to many people, the difference that’s most surprising isn’t any of these: It’s that he’s a Republican, and she’s a Democrat.
Voter guides
How to volunteer on Election Day in metro Atlanta
While many metro Atlanta counties were overwhelmed with applications to become poll workers, there are still plenty of ways to help out fellow voters and volunteer on Election Day.
Your top 10 questions about voting absentee in Georgia, answered
Although absentee voting has long been a part of Georgia elections and every registered voter is eligible for an absentee ballot, many will be using the method this year for the first time. Here’s how to request an absentee ballot—yes, there’s still time—and how to ensure it gets counted.
CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRES
Georgia has several high-profile federal races on the ballot this year. To help you learn where the 2020 candidates stand, we asked them to answer questions about the pandemic, healthcare, the state of policing, and other issues impacting life in our state.
Editor's Note: Candidates David Perdue, Kelly Loeffler, Nikema Williams, Karen Handel, and Rich McCormick have not yet provided responses our questionnaire.
How do i vote?
The election is November 3, 2020. Head to the Georgia’s My Voter page to check your registration status and to learn where your poll location is. To vote in Georgia, you must have:
- a valid state or federal government-issued ID
- a Georgia driver’s license (it’s okay if it’s expired)
- a valid employee photo ID from a federal or state government branch, department or agency, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of the state
- a valid U.S. passport
- a valid U.S. military photo ID
- a valid tribal photo ID
- a Georgia voter ID card
If you’d like to cast an absentee ballot, you can request one without needing a specific reason. Ballots can be requested online here and must be received (not postmarked) by 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you don’t think your absentee ballot can make it by mail, it’s best to drop it off at a county drop box location. For more information on absentee voting, check out this article.
- Fulton County Drop Box Locations
- DeKalb County Drop Box Locations
- Cobb County Drop Box Locations
- Gwinnett County Drop Box Locations
- Clayton County’s Drop Box is located at the Clayton County Board of Elections & Registration, 121 South McDonough Street, Jonesboro, GA, 30236
Early voting began October 12 and turnout so far has been record-setting. The dates and times for early voting vary by county. Remember that unlike on Election Day, you can vote at any early voting location in your county. Find more information about your county’s locations below:
- Fulton County Early Voting Schedule
- DeKalb County Early Voting Schedule
- Cobb County Early Voting Schedule
- Gwinnett County Early Voting Schedule
- Clayton County Early Voting Schedule
More helpful info:
- Here is a map of Georgia’s Congressional districts.
- Find out who your state legislators are and districts here.
- To learn your Atlanta City Council district, enter your address here.
