Omar Bennett
Georgia is one of seven states that require run-off elections if a candidate does not receive at least 50% of the vote in a primary election. In the case of a run-off, the top two candidates from the general election will face each other in a second election. This is held four weeks after the general election, and early voting begins a week prior to the run-off date.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When is a runoff election required? | When no candidate receives a majority of votes in the general election. |
| Who participates in the runoff election? | The top two vote-getters from the general election. |
| When is the runoff election held? | Four weeks after the general election. |
| What is the voting process? | Voters must show a valid photo ID when voting in person. Absentee and mail-in ballots are also available. |
| Which states require runoff elections in general elections? | Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana. |
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What You'll Learn
- Runoff elections are triggered when no candidate receives a majority of votes
- The top two candidates from the first election advance to the runoff
- Georgia is one of seven states that require runoffs for primary elections
- Runoff elections are held 4 weeks after the general election
- Georgia runoff elections are harder for Democrats to win
Runoff elections are triggered when no candidate receives a majority of votes
In Georgia, runoff elections are triggered when no candidate receives a majority of the votes in a general election. This means that if no candidate gets more than 50% of the votes, a runoff is required. The state requires a candidate to receive a majority of the votes to win a general election, unlike most other states, where a candidate can win with a plurality of the votes.
Georgia is one of only two states, the other being Louisiana, that use runoffs to decide general elections if a candidate does not earn a majority of the vote. In the case of a runoff, the top two candidates who received the most votes in the general election will advance to the runoff election. This is also referred to as a second election.
The runoff election is typically held four weeks after the general election, although the time frame may vary. Early voting for the runoff begins a week before the election date. Runoff elections can be challenging for Democrats in Georgia, as it can be difficult to re-energize the voter base and campaigns may have already spent most of their funds.
Georgia residents must show valid photo identification when voting in person, such as a driver's license or U.S. passport. Voters who requested an absentee or mail-in ballot for the general election due to elderly age, disability, or overseas voting and checked the relevant box should receive a ballot automatically for the runoff. Others must submit another absentee ballot application to their county elections office.
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The top two candidates from the first election advance to the runoff
In Georgia, a runoff election is held when no candidate wins a majority in a general election. This is unusual, as in most states, the candidate with the highest number of votes is declared the winner.
Georgia is one of only two states, the other being Louisiana, to use runoffs to decide general elections if a candidate doesn't receive a majority of the vote. Runoff elections are required for all congressional, state executive, and state legislative elections in which a candidate does not receive a majority in the general election.
The runoff election is held four weeks after the general election, and early voting begins a week prior to the runoff date. Georgia residents must show a valid photo ID when voting in person, and absentee ballots are also available.
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Georgia is one of seven states that require runoffs for primary elections
Georgia is one of the nine states that schedule runoffs for congressional primaries. A runoff election is a second election held to determine a winner when no candidate in the first election meets the required threshold for victory. In Georgia, runoff elections are required for all congressional, state executive, and state legislative elections in which a candidate does not receive a majority in the general election. The top two finishers in the general election then advance to the runoff, which is held on the 28th day after the preceding general election.
Georgia has an unusual requirement for a runoff election when no candidate wins a majority in a general election — most states declare the highest vote-getter the winner. The runoff election system was intended to encourage candidates to broaden their appeal to a wider range of voters and reduce the likelihood of electing candidates who are at the ideological extremes of a party.
The other eight states that require runoffs for primary elections are Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas. Most states have pre-set dates for runoffs, usually two to eight weeks after the initial election. Louisiana is unique in that it doesn't hold primaries for congressional elections. Instead, all registered candidates appear on one general election ballot, and if no candidate receives 50% of the vote, the top two advance to a runoff.
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Runoff elections are held 4 weeks after the general election
Georgia is one of seven states that require run-off elections if no candidate receives a majority of the votes in a general election. In the case of a run-off, the top two candidates from the general election will face each other in a second election. Unless otherwise postponed by a court order, the run-off election is held four weeks after the general election. Early voting for the run-off begins a week prior to the run-off date.
Georgia's run-off election law has been criticised for shortening the time between the general election and the run-off from nine weeks to four weeks. This has been seen by some as a way to curtail new Democratic voters, as it gives campaigns less time to re-galvanise their base and secure additional funding. However, a federal judge in Georgia declined to block the shortened run-off period, stating that the plaintiffs did not provide sufficient evidence that the new law would disproportionately harm Black voters.
Georgia residents must show a valid photo ID when voting in person, and absentee ballots must be requested in advance. The state also offers a free voter ID card, which can be used for voting and can be obtained at any County Board of Registrar's Office.
Georgia was gearing up for two run-off elections in January 2021, which were expected to attract a large amount of money and attention due to their potential impact on the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
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Georgia runoff elections are harder for Democrats to win
Georgia is one of only two states that use runoffs to decide general elections if a candidate doesn't earn a majority of the vote. The other state is Louisiana. Runoff elections are held for both primary and general elections when no candidate receives a majority of the vote. In Georgia, the top two vote-getters in the general election advance to the runoff, which is held four weeks later.
Historically, runoff elections are harder for Democrats to win in Georgia. This is because it is challenging to re-energize a base that has already voted, and campaigns may have already spent most of their funds. Additionally, Democrats tend to push early voting and vote-by-mail more than Republicans, and Georgia's shortened runoff election period leaves less time for early in-person voting and mail ballots.
For example, in the 2020 US Election, Joe Biden pulled ahead of Donald Trump in Georgia by a razor-thin margin. The state's two Senate races also headed to a runoff election, which could determine the balance of power in the US Senate. Incumbent Republican Senator David Perdue received 49.8% of the vote, while Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff received 47%. The winner of the runoff would serve the remainder of Ossoff's six-year term.
In another instance, Democrat Raphael Warnock received the most votes (32.7%) in a Senate race with 21 candidates. Republican Kelly Loeffler placed second with 26% of the vote. The runoff election between Warnock and Loeffler would determine who won the Senate seat. These examples illustrate how runoff elections in Georgia can be challenging for Democrats, as they must maintain voter enthusiasm and compete with limited resources.
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Frequently asked questions
A runoff election is a second election held to determine a winner when no candidate in the first election met the required threshold for victory.
In Georgia, runoff elections are required for all congressional, state executive, and state legislative elections in which a candidate does not receive a majority in the general election.
The top two finishers in the general election advance to the runoff. Unless otherwise postponed by a court order, the runoff is held on the 28th day after the preceding general election.
