Georgia early voting nears end as candidates make final pitches

Georgia early voting concluded on Oct. 30. The Georgia secretary of state reported that nearly two million people cast ballots by Monday. That figure represents more than 25% of all registered voters in the state.

Voters cited personal responsibility and future impact as reasons for voting early. Isaiah Tackett said he did not want to sit on the sidelines. Kristen Hudson, who has an eight-year-old daughter, said she wanted to set an example for her child. Her daughter asked if she had voted. Hudson said she showed her a sticker to prove it.

Candidates are active across the state in the final days before the election. In Jefferson, Republican Rep. Mike Collins told voters he will improve health care and affordability if elected to the U.S. Senate. He said Nov. 3 is a chance to correct a past mistake in the Senate seat. He claimed the current senator is the wrong person for the job.

In Carrollton County, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson spoke to a group of farmers. He promised lower income and property taxes. He also pledged a focus on education. Jackson said he wants to help people overcome job loss and personal struggles. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms warned against distractions. She said voters need leaders who think independently and make sound decisions. She specifically mentioned not getting caught up in the distractions of Donald Trump.

In Atlanta, Bottoms campaigned alongside incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff. Both Democrats focused on the rising cost of living and medical insurance. Ossoff challenged Collins on his ties to white nationalists. He said Collins needs to explain why white nationalist and antisemitic propaganda is produced from his home. Ossoff called this a reported fact, not just an allegation.

Former President Barack Obama will visit Georgia on Wednesday. He will rally with Ossoff and Bottoms. This visit comes days after President Donald Trump held a rally in Middle Georgia. Voters told reporters that the quality of their daily lives drives their voting choices. Tackett said voters have the opportunity to shift things now.