Atlanta Election Guide 2020

Atlanta Georgia Election Guide 2020

Photograph by Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

Latest Election Coverage

How Georgia became "the premier battleground state"

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.
Richard Barron board votes to fire

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

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.
Fulton County Elections 2020 Election

Inside the battle for Fulton County’s votes

Reporter Johnny Kauffman spent four months embedded in the Fulton County elections department as its staff fought to protect democracy and their own lives—all while the eyes of the world were on Georgia.
With all eyes on Georgia, Warnock wins and Ossoff ahead

Georgia Democrats Warnock and Ossoff win, will flip the U.S. Senate

The victory for both Warnock and Ossoff will lead to a 50-50 split for U.S. Senate control. With Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tiebreaker, the Democrats will gain control of the Senate.

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

Where to volunteer on Election Day in Atlanta

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.
How to do I request and submit an absentee ballot in Georgia?

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

2020 Georgia Election 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.

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:

More helpful info: