Georgia voters decide Ossoff, Bottoms fates in Tuesday's midterm

Georgia voters head to the polls Tuesday to settle high-stakes contests for the U.S. Senate and the governor's office.

The races have drawn intense national attention and heavy spending, turning the state's midterm election into a key test of political alignment. Polling places across all 159 counties will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

In the Senate race, Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff faces Republican challenger Mike Collins. Collins, a U.S. Representative and author of the Laken Riley Act, has positioned himself as a loyal ally to President Donald Trump. Ossoff has attacked Collins for his close ties to the president, calling him an extremist and a white supremacist following Collins' primary victory. Collins has countered by describing Ossoff as an out-of-touch Hollywood tool.

Collins has recently shared stages with Trump at campaign rallies in Dalton and Perry. His strategy relies heavily on his association with the former president, even as Trump's approval ratings remain low. Ossoff, seeking his first reelection, has focused on contrasting that approach with his own record.

The gubernatorial race pits Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms against Republican Rick Jackson. Bottoms, a former Atlanta mayor and senior Biden administration official, aims to become the nation's first Black female governor. She has centered her campaign on kitchen-table economics and civil rights, criticizing Jackson for pledging to be "Trump's favorite governor."

Jackson, a billionaire businessman, won the Republican primary in a surprising upset against Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. He has campaigned on a conservative agenda that includes slashing state income taxes, freezing property tax hikes, and reducing health care costs. He has framed Bottoms as a failed urban executive who left Atlanta after one term.

Voters must present an approved government-issued photo ID to cast their ballots. Acceptable forms include a Georgia driver's license, even if expired, or a valid U.S. passport. A free voter ID card issued by a county registrar or the Department of Driver Services is also valid.

Those with unreturned mail-in absentee ballots must deliver them by hand to their county registrar's office before 7 p.m. Tuesday. Ballots received after that time will not be counted, regardless of postmark. Voters who choose to vote in person should bring their unvoted paper ballots to their assigned precinct to have them canceled.