Which party controls the state government?
Republican trifecta
Georgia
Georgia cut drop boxes after SB 202, canceled about 471,000 voter registrations in 2025, and elects a new governor on November 3 with Kemp term-limited.
Updated October 3, 2026. Every figure is sourced and dated.
- 4
- Georgia guides
- 56
- rules tracked
What November 3 Decided
Results as certified by the Secretary of State. Nothing here is a projection; each office reads "Not yet certified" until the state certifies it.
- Governor Not yet certified Rick Jackson (R), Keisha Bottoms (D)
Who Runs Georgia
The Legislature meets next on January 11, 2027.
- Governor Brian Kemp Term-limited
- Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones Lost the June 16, 2026 runoff for governor; not on the November ballot
- Attorney General Chris Carr Not on the ballot
- Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger Not on the ballot
- Majority Leader of the Georgia Senate Jason Anavitarte On the ballot for his Senate seat
- Speaker of the Georgia House Jon Burns On the ballot for his House seat
Who Votes in Georgia
An estimated 64.4% of Georgia's adult citizens voted in November 2024, plus or minus 2.6 points, against 65.3% nationwide.
- 11.2 million Residents, July 1, 2024
- 8.4 million Adults 18 and over (estimated)
- 7.6 million Adult citizens (estimated)
- 5.4 million Registered to vote (estimated)
- 4.9 million Voted (estimated)
- 5,250,905 Ballots counted for president
Georgia
United States
- Voted
- Registered, did not vote
- Not registered
Shares of adult citizens. Registered but did not vote: Georgia 6.4%, United States 8.3%. Registered and voted are estimates from the Census Current Population Survey, November 2024 (Table 4a); the margin of error for Georgia's turnout is plus or minus 2.6 points and for its registration 2.8 points. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates. Presidential count: Federal Election Commission, from each state's certified canvass.
Donald Trump carried Georgia by 2.2 points in the certified count, 2,663,117 votes to 2,548,017.
Your Georgia Rules
The answers people look up first, chosen by search demand from our 50-state datasets. Each is dated and links to the source and to every state's answer.
- Is there a cap on how fast assessed home values can rise? Statewide floating exemption limiting yearly increases to inflation, unless the local government opted out Local option or one area
- How far into pregnancy is abortion legal? 6 weeks Banned after 6 to 12 weeks
- Do you need an ID to vote in person in Georgia? Photo ID, strict Without ID: Vote provisionally and show photo ID at the county registrar within three days after the election. Since 2025 (HB 296), the ID must be a physical card, not a phone app.
- Is marijuana legal in Georgia? Illegal for adults, medical use allowed Medical use only
- How much support does Christian nationalism have in Georgia? 42% support 38% to 44%
- Can a person with a felony conviction vote in Georgia? Lost until parole and probation end
How Georgia Ranks
Georgia is one of 20 states where most workers are owed the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| South Dakota | $11.85 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 |
| Arkansas | $11 |
| Ohio | $11 |
| Montana | $10.85 |
| West Virginia | $8.75 |
| Georgia | $7.25 |
Georgia and the states ranked just above the 20 states that share its value. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026). Rates as of October 14, 2026.
Every Georgia Guide
4 guides to Georgia law and politics, each sourced and dated.
Elections and Who Holds Power
Your Money, Work and Home
Health and Safety
Guns, Drugs and Criminal Justice
Georgia Rules at a Glance
56 answers from our 50-state datasets. Each card shows when it was last verified and links to the source and to the Georgia guide or every state's answer.
Rule of Law (2)
Is marijuana legal in the state?
Illegal for adults, medical use allowed
Medical use only
Voting (19)
When is the last day to register for November 3, 2026?
In person by Monday, October 5
Deadline before Election Day
Who can vote by mail?
Any voter can ask for a ballot
Are guns banned at polling places?
Banned
Do you have to prove citizenship to register?
Enacted, then blocked by a court
Is ranked choice voting used or banned?
No state law, not in use
Who draws the congressional map?
State legislature
Did the state draw a new congressional map for 2026?
Tried and blocked, rejected, or dropped
Was the state covered by Voting Rights Act preclearance before 2013?
Fully covered until 2013
Did the 2024 presidential campaigns treat the state as a battleground?
Battleground
Has the state joined the National Popular Vote Compact?
Not joined
How many electoral votes does the state have?
16 electoral votes
10 to 19 electoral votes
Did the state gain or lose House seats after the 2020 census?
No change
Can voters recall state officials?
Yes, by a recall election
Where is the state's guide to running for office?
Ballotpedia, How to run for office in Georgia
Guide available
When did the state ratify the 19th Amendment?
Ratified February 20, 1970
Decades later, 1941-1984
Who can vote in a party primary?
Open
Open: any voter, private choice
Can a person with a felony conviction vote in the state?
Lost until parole and probation end
Do you need an ID to vote in person in the state?
Photo ID, strict
How many people in the state are eligible, registered and voted?
An estimated 64.4% of adult citizens voted in 2024 (plus or minus 2.6 points)
An estimated 60% to 69.9% voted
Immigration (1)
Is the state on the Justice Department’s sanctuary list?
Nothing in the state is listed
LGBTQ Rights (4)
Is gender-affirming care for minors banned or protected?
Care ban in effect
Is conversion therapy banned for minors?
No full ban
Must schools tell parents about a student’s gender identity?
No forced-outing law
Does the state constitution still ban same-sex marriage?
Ban still in the constitution, unenforceable
Education (1)
Has the state restricted DEI at public colleges?
No statewide restriction
Healthcare (1)
Has the state expanded Medicaid?
Not expanded
Economy (8)
What is the state's minimum wage?
$7.25 an hour (the federal minimum)
$7.25, the federal floor
Can cities set a higher minimum wage?
Blocked by state law
Can cities require paid sick leave?
Blocked by state law
Is the state a right-to-work state?
Has a right-to-work law
What would the projected Social Security cut cost a retiree in the state?
About $446 a month
Projected cut at depletion
How much of the state's budget comes from federal money?
28.8% federal money
Under 30% federal
Does the state tax income, and at what rate?
Flat 5.19%
Flat rate
How high is the property tax on a home in the state?
0.79% of home value, 25th highest of 50
Above the middle (11th to 25th)
Ethics (1)
How much does the state require lobbyists to disclose?
No compensation disclosure
Reproductive Rights (1)
How far into pregnancy is abortion legal?
6 weeks
Banned after 6 to 12 weeks
Civil Rights (7)
Does the state have the death penalty?
Has the death penalty
How does the state's civil forfeiture law grade?
Grade D-
D range
Has the state passed anti-protest laws since 2017?
3 laws enacted since 2017
At least one law enacted
Does the state constitution name a right to privacy?
No explicit clause
Does the state have a consumer data privacy law?
No comprehensive law
How much support does Christian nationalism have in the state?
42% support
38% to 44%
Did the state ratify the Equal Rights Amendment?
Never ratified
Housing (5)
Can a landlord refuse a housing voucher?
Yes, unless a local law applies
Does the state ban sleeping outside in public places?
Statewide ban passed and signed
How much notice must a landlord give for unpaid rent?
3 days
Does the state give homeowners a homestead exemption?
Yes, a statewide program
Yes, a statewide program for most homeowners
Is there a cap on how fast assessed home values can rise?
Statewide floating exemption limiting yearly increases to inflation, unless the local government opted out
Local option or one area
Gun Safety (6)
Does the state have a red flag law?
No statewide red flag law
Can cities pass their own gun laws?
Broad state preemption
Can you openly carry a handgun in the state?
Yes, no permit needed
Do you need a permit to carry a concealed handgun?
No permit needed (permitless carry)
Does the state require background checks on private gun sales?
No, only the federal dealer check
Is there a waiting period to buy a gun?
No waiting period
Georgia passed SB 202 after the 2020 election, and it cut the number of drop boxes in the counties where Black voters are concentrated. In 2025 the state canceled about 471,000 voter registrations. After the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais ruling, Governor Kemp called a special session for June 17, 2026 to redraw the state’s maps.
Governor Kemp is term-limited. Keisha Bottoms won the Democratic primary with 56.2% of the vote, and Rick Jackson won the Republican runoff on June 16, 2026 with 52.6%. They face each other on November 3.
SB 202’s Drop Box and ID Rules
SB 202 requires every county to have at least one drop box, caps the number at one per 100,000 active voters or one per early voting site, whichever is smaller, and moves the boxes inside early voting sites (GPB). It also added ID requirements for mail ballot applications.
Voter Roll Removals
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger targeted 477,883 inactive registrations for cancellation in 2025, canceling roughly 471,000, about 6% of the state’s voters.
”After excluding voters who cast ballots in other states and likely moved, this purge list disproportionately targets Black Georgians who likely still live here.”
Lauren Groh-Wargo, CEO, Fair FightBlack Voters Matter Fund sued Raffensperger for refusing to release full purge records under the National Voter Registration Act. Without those records, no one can verify whether eligible voters were wrongly removed.
A 2022 mass challenge to 37,000 voters in Gwinnett County forced 5 to 10 election staffers to work all day, six days a week for multiple weeks.
The Callais Ruling and Georgia’s Black-Majority Districts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais on April 29, 2026, that majority-Black congressional districts relying on race in their construction violate equal protection. Plaintiffs challenging maps under the Voting Rights Act must now prove intentional racial discrimination, not just discriminatory effects.
Governor Kemp called a special session for June 17, 2026 to redraw congressional, state Senate, and state House maps for the 2028 elections.
After the Callais decision, Florida passed a new map diluting Black and Hispanic voting power. Alabama and Louisiana reverted to single majority-Black districts, scrapping second districts ordered by lower courts. Tennessee halted ongoing elections to redraw maps.
Ruling date April 29, 2026
Special session June 17, 2026
Maps redrawn for The 2028 elections, per the governor’s call
GOP position Maps should use “traditional redistricting principles” without “racial targets”
Democratic position “A brazen attempt to take away the voting power of Black Georgians"
"Today’s Supreme Court decision marks a profound defeat for American democracy and will pave the way for partisan politicians to pick their voters.”
Sen. Raphael WarnockGeorgia’s QR Code Ballot Ban and Replacement Funding
Georgia’s Dominion touchscreens (now rebranded as Liberty Vote) print ballots listing the voter’s choices in plain text next to a QR code. The scanners read the QR code, not the printed text. Voters have no way to verify what the QR code actually says.
In 2024 the legislature banned QR code tabulation starting July 1, 2026. Then it adjourned without choosing a replacement system or funding one.
$300 million estimated cost to replace the system. Legislature allocated $0.
A compromise bill letting counties keep current machines through 2026 while requiring QR-code-free systems by 2028 passed the House. Senate Republicans declined to take it up, and as of May 2026 the state’s 159 counties had no replacement system, equipment or funding.
Modify current system $25-26 million
Full replacement Up to $300 million
Funded by legislature $0
Security breach Dominion source code published online after extraction from Coffee County elections office
Kemp’s call for the June 17 special session included the ballot system alongside redistricting.
Georgia’s Transgender Athlete Ban
Governor Kemp signed SB 1, the Riley Gaines Act, on April 28, 2025. It takes effect July 1, 2026. The law requires all public schools from elementary through college to designate teams by sex assigned at birth and bans transgender girls from girls’ teams. It also restricts restroom, locker room, and sleeping quarter access during athletic events.
0 transgender athletes currently competing in Georgia schools when the law was signed
”SB1 will likely be weaponized against students, specifically as it relates to intersex individuals, but it could also be used against cisgender students who are accused of being transgender.”
Jeff Graham, Executive Director, Georgia EqualityThe law defines male as someone who produces sperm and female as someone who produces ovum. Georgia Equality warns that the definition reaches beyond trans athletes, so that any student whose appearance does not match expectations could face a challenge.
Georgia’s Open Governor Race in November
Kemp is term-limited. In the May 19 primaries, Democratic ballots made up about 54% of the votes cast for governor.
Keisha Bottoms won the Democratic primary outright against Michael Thurmond, Jason Esteves, and Geoff Duncan. Rick Jackson beat Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Republican runoff.
The attorney general race will determine who controls the state’s legal strategy on voting rights and challenges to the new redistricting maps. Republican SB 577 would give the AG exclusive authority over pollution lawsuits while barring local governments from filing their own cases.
What Comes Next in Georgia
The general election is November 3, and the deadline to register is Monday, October 5. A governor’s race with no majority winner goes to a December 1, 2026 runoff.
What You Can Do in Georgia
-
Check your voter registration. Georgia purged 471,000 registrations in 2025. Verify your status at mvp.sos.ga.gov.
-
Know your mail ballot ID. If you vote by mail, confirm the driver’s license number on your application matches your registration file. Black voters were 25 percentage points more likely to have applications rejected because of ID mismatches.
-
Find your drop box and its hours. Drop boxes are now inside early voting locations with limited hours. Locate yours through your county elections office before you need it.
-
Register and vote. The registration deadline is Monday, October 5, and Election Day is November 3. Check your polling place on the My Voter Page.
-
Show up to your county election board meetings. County officials are making decisions about voting equipment with no state guidance. They need to hear from voters, not just vendors.
Contact Your Officials
Call your two U.S. senators, the governor's office, or look up your own state legislators.
Governor Brian Kemp (R) 404-656-1776
Your State Legislators
Every address in Georgia sits in one district for each chamber of the Legislature, and each district elects its own member. Enter your address in the Legislature's own lookup to see who represents you.
Chamber leaders
- Jason Anavitarte, Majority Leader of the Georgia Senate
- Jon Burns, Speaker of the Georgia House
All 236 Georgia legislators
- Ben Watson
- Derek Mallow
- Mike Hodges
- Billy Hickman
- Sheikh Rahman
- Matt Brass
- Adrienne White Carden
- Russ Goodman
- Nikki Merritt
- Emanuel Jones
- Sam Watson
- Freddie Powell Sims
- Carden Summers
- Josh McLaurin
- Ed Harbison
- Marty Harbin
- Gail Davenport
- Steven McNeel
- Blake Tillery
- Larry Walker, III
- Jason T. Dickerson
- Harold Jones II
- Max Burns
- Lee Anderson
- Rick Williams
- David Lucas
- Greg Dolezal
- Donzella James
- Randy Robertson
- Timothy Bearden
- Jason Anavitarte
- Kay Kirkpatrick
- Michael 'Doc' Rhett
- Kenya Wicks
- Jaha Howard
- Nan Orrock
- Ed Setzler
- RaShaun Kemp
- Sonya Halpern
- Sally Harrell
- Kim Jackson
- Brian Strickland
- Tonya Anderson
- Elena Parent
- Clint Dixon
- Bill Cowsert
- Frank Ginn
- Shawn Still
- Drew Echols
- Bo Hatchett
- Steve Gooch
- Chuck Hufstetler
- Lanny Thomas
- Chuck Payne
- Randal Mangham
- John Albers
- Mike Cameron
- Steve Tarvin
- Mitchell Horner
- Kasey Carpenter
- Matt Barton
- Jason Ridley
- Johnny Chastain
- Stan Gunter
- Will Wade
- Victor Anderson
- Rick Jasperse
- Eddie Lumsden
- Katie Dempsey
- Mitchell Scoggins
- Matthew Gambill
- Trey Kelley
- Martin Momtahan
- Tyler Paul Smith
- Joseph Gullett
- Charlice Byrd
- Brad Thomas
- Jordan Ridley
- Bill Fincher
- Carter Barrett
- Todd Jones
- Lauren McDonald III
- Lee Hawkins
- Brent Cox
- Matt Dubnik
- Derrick McCollum
- Emory Dunahoo
- Chris Erwin
- Alan Powell
- Devan Seabaugh
- Lisa Campbell
- Ginny Ehrhart
- Mary Frances Williams
- David Wilkerson
- Terry Cummings
- Kimberly New
- Michael Smith
- Gabriel Sanchez
- Solomon Adesanya
- Don Parsons
- Sharon Cooper
- John Carson
- Jan Jones
- Scott Hilton
- Chuck Martin
- Michelle Au
- Esther Panitch
- Shea Roberts
- Deborah Silcox
- Betsy Holland
- Inga Willis
- Bryce Berry
- Stacey Evans
- Park Cannon
- Phil Olaleye
- Sheila Jones
- Mekyah McQueen
- Tanya F. Miller
- Kim Schofield
- Sylvia Wayfer Baker
- Robert Dawson
- Kimberly Alexander
- Lydia Glaize
- Derrick Jackson
- Debra Bazemore
- Lynn Smith
- Jutt Howard
- David Huddleston
- Josh Bonner
- Robert Flournoy
- Eric Bell
- Sandra Scott
- Rhonda Burnough
- Demetrius Douglas
- Yasmin Neal
- Long Tran
- Noelle Kahaian
- Karen Mathiak
- Karen Lupton
- Mary Margaret Oliver
- Karla Drenner
- Imani Barnes
- Viola Davis
- Billy Mitchell
- Omari Crawford
- Saira Draper
- Angela Moore
- Rhonda Taylor
- Doreen Carter
- Venola Mason
- Dar'shun Kendrick
- Arlene Beckles
- Ruwa Romman
- Marvin Lim
- Matt Reeves
- David Clark
- Scott Holcomb
- Gabe Okoye
- Soo Hong
- Chuck Efstration
- Sandy Donatucci
- Akbar Ali
- Sam Park
- Jasmine Clark
- Dewey McClain
- Segun Adeyina
- Reynaldo "Rey" Martinez
- Bruce Williamson
- Sharon Henderson
- Tim Fleming
- Regina Lewis-Ward
- El-Mahdi Holly
- Mary Ann Santos
- Clint Crowe
- Holt Persinger
- Houston Gaines
- Eric Gisler
- Spencer Frye
- Rob Leverett
- Trey Rhodes
- Gary Richardson
- L.C. Myles
- Mark Newton
- Mack Jackson
- Karlton Howard
- Sheila Nelson
- Rob Clifton
- Brian Prince
- Danny Mathis
- Robert Dickey
- Beth Camp
- David Jenkins
- Debbie Buckner
- Vance Smith
- Carmen Rice
- Tremaine Teddy Reese
- Carolyn Hugley
- Miriam Paris
- Anissa Jones
- Dale Washburn
- Tangie Herring
- Shaw Blackmon
- Bethany Ballard
- Noel Williams, Jr.
- Floyd Griffin
- Patty Marie Stinson
- Mike Cheokas
- Bill Yearta
- David Sampson
- Gerald Greene
- Matt Hatchett
- Leesa Hagan
- Bill Werkheiser
- Butch Parrish
- Jon Burns
- Lehman Franklin
- Bill Hitchens
- Carl Gilliard
- Anne Allen Westbrook
- Ron Stephens
- Edna Jackson
- Jesse Petrea
- Buddy DeLoach
- Al Williams
- Angie O'Steen
- Jaclyn Ford
- Joe Campbell
- Chas Cannon
- Darlene Taylor
- John Corbett
- John LaHood
- James Burchett
- Alvin Payton
- Steven Meeks
- Rick Townsend
- Steven Sainz
No legislators match that search.
Source: Georgia General Assembly member lists, read October 3, 2026.
Events
Show Up Locally
Protect Elections in Fulton County
Community Event · Indivisible ATL
141 Pryor St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30303
Attend Fulton County Board of Elections Meetings with our Indivisible ATL elections team. For the month of November, Fulco Board of Elections has moved the date and location of its monthly meeting.
Mid Fulton Dems: Volunteer Appreciation Social!
Community Event · Fulton County Democratic Party Committee
909 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30306
We worked hard to win this election, and together, we helped turn Georgia blue! Join the Mid Fulton Democrats for an evening of celebration and appreciation with the volunteers and neighbors who made.
Karaoke with the Dems
Visibility Event · Clayton County Democrats
1140 Mt Zion Rd, Morrow, GA, 30260
Clayton County Dems invites you to Karaoke with the Dems! It'll be a night of FOOD | MUSIC | FUN! Come support Traditions Global Cuisine during their Karaoke Night and come see what type of talent.
December Mutual Aid Drive with Our Giving Garden
Community Event · Silver Comet Indivisible
79 Cooper Lake Rd SE, Mableton, GA, 30126
Food items that are always in high demand: peanut butter, dried pasta, canned fruits and vegetables (fruits, including applesauce, are especially popular and much less donated), canned soups are also.
Clayton County Board of Education Meetings
Community Event · Clayton County Democrats
2530 Mt Zion Pkwy, Jonesboro, GA, 30236
Attend the Clayton County Board of Education 2026 Meetings
Voter Tools
Voter Registration and Resources
Find Federal Representatives Use Congress.gov to confirm your House member and senators. Check Voting Rules Verify state registration rules and deadlines before the next election.
Don't see a letter on your issue? Text RESIST to 50409 to write your own to any official.