Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Georgia Shatters Early-Voting Record with 1.02 M Ballots

5/17/2026

46 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Georgia set a new state record for early-voting turnout in the 2026 primary, with more than 1,023,000 ballots cast.
Early voting ended on Friday, May 15.
Election day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19.
The first week produced 214,000 ballots, a 28 % increase over the same period in 2022.
Democrats and Republicans cast 451,901 and 352,098 early votes respectively, with women comprising 57 % of early voters.

History

Historical Context

Barack Obama’s 2008 victory produced a record 131.3 million votes, yielding a turnout near 63 % of eligible voters, the highest since 1968. The election occurred when most states already allowed early voting, highlighting its role in handling high participation. That lesson guides the Democratic Party and other planners as they expand early-vote options nationwide.

1 of 2

Story summary

Georgia set a new state record for early-voting turnout in the 2026 primary, with more than 1,023,000 ballots cast.
Early voting ended on Friday, May 15.
Election day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19.
The first week produced 214,000 ballots, a 28 % increase over the same period in 2022.
Democrats and Republicans cast 451,901 and 352,098 early votes respectively, with women comprising 57 % of early voters.

1 / 2