It’s Election Day! Polls open 7am to 7pm

Today is Tuesday, Dece,ber 6, and it’s your last chance to cast your vote for the next U.S. Senator from Georgia. Your choices are Democratic Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock or Republican Herschel Walker. A win for Warnock would solidify Democratic control of the Senate against the Republican House. A win for Walker could give Republicans control of both houses of Congress.

I’m still undecided

Check out our coverage of each candidate here, here, and here.

Ballotpedia

• Raphael Warnock (D-Incumbent)
• Herschel Walker (R)

Why does this runoff matter?

The United States is one of the few countries in the world where the people decide who runs the government.

If you need some inspiration, check out WSB’s Tom Jones on young voters casting their ballots for the first time.

Whoever wins this election is likely to give one party or the other an edge in close votes in the Senate. Republicans eked out a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, while Democrats flipped the Senate after picking up two key seats in Pennsylvania and Nevada. If Warnock wins reelection, that would give Democrats a little more insurance in case of close votes. Two Independent Senators, Bernie Sanders and Angus King, tend to vote with Democrats, and Vice-President Kamala Harris would cast any tie-breaking vote on the Democrats’ side.

How many people voted early?

According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, nearly one in four Clayton County active voters cast ballots before today’s runoff. 43,155 out of 179,455, or 24%, turned out early.

Of those, 40,650 in-person ballots and 2,477 paper advance/absentee ballots were cast.

4,129 paper advance/absentee ballots were requested.

4,127 were issued. Of those ballots issued, 2,498 were returned.

Of those ballots returned , 2,477 were accepted, 21 were rejected, and 230 were spoiled or cancelled.

2,436 advance/absentee ballots were mailed, while 41 were submitted electronically.

Where do I go to vote?

Check your My Voter Page at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/ to find out where your assigned precinct is. That’s the only place you are allowed to vote today. Here’s the latest precinct list from Clayton County Elections and Registration:

What if I need a ride?

The New Georgia Project offers reservations for free rides to and from the polls. Visit https://newgeorgiaproject.org/rides/ to sign up.

What should I bring?

Dress for the weather. Chances are you won’t be standing in long lines because roughly ten times more precincts are open on Election Day.

Be sure to bring your state-approved voter ID.

If you are voting by paper advance/absentee ballot, you must hand deliver your ballot in person to the registrar’s office in the Historic Jonesboro Courthouse by 7 p.m. today.

If you applied for a paper advance/absentee ballot but it never came, go to your assigned polling place and ask to cast your vote on the machines.

If you go to your polling place but have some other voter registration issue, you have the right to cast a provisional ballot. You will have to cure your ballot by Friday.

What if I see something questionable?

You can call the Georgia Voter Fraud Hotline at (877) 725-9797 or file an online complaint. A state investigator may get back in touch with you.

You also can call the national nonpartisan voter protection line at (866) OUR VOTE for English speakers. Other languages include:

• English: 866-OUR-VOTE – Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
• Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA – NALEO Educational Fund
• Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US – Arab American Institute (AAI)
• Asian Languages/English: 888-API-VOTE – APIAVote & Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC)

In case of emergency, always dial 911 first.

And in case you see something newsworthy, call or text The Clayton Crescent at (404) 547-1171.

The Clayton Crescent will have updates throughout the day from both state and county perspectives.