(The Center Square) – More than 128,000 people have voted early in Georgia’s June 16 primary runoff election, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Another 6,916 absentee ballots were counted, bringing the total to 143,871 votes cast.
The turnout represents 2% of Georgia’s registered voters. The turnout for the May primary was 28.2%. Georgia has 7,359,388 active voters, according to the secretary of state’s office.
The Republican contests for U.S. Senate and governor in Georgia are garnering a lot of attention in the June 16 primary runoff, but voters will have a long slate of races to decide.
Six Republican and four Democratic contests are on the ballot.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Rick Jackson are vying for the Republican nomination and contest with Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former University of Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley are competing for Republican votes in the U.S. Senate race. The winner will take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
Four state senators are in the race for lieutenant governor.
Former state Sen. John F. Kennedy and Sen. Greg Dolezal defeated five other candidates to advance to the runoff. The winner will face either Sen. Josh McLaurin or former state Sen. Nabliah Parkes in November, who are seeking the Democratic position.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger lost his gubernatorial bid and is not running again. State Rep. Tim Fleming and former state Rep. Vernon Jones are seeking the Republican nod. For the Democrats, former Judge Penny Brown Reynolds and Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett are running.
State School Superintendent Richard Woods nearly avoided a runoff on May 19, with 49.89% of the vote. He is facing Fred “Bubba” Longgear. The winner will advance to the November election against Democrat Lydia Powell.
The other statewide Republican primary is a contest for the District 5 seat on the Public Service Commission. Tricia Pridemore stepped down to run for the 11th Congressional District Post. Josh Tolbert and Bobby Mehan are on the ballot to succeed her.
Democrats will also choose candidates for the insurance commissioner and labor commissioner positions. Keisha Sean Waites and DeAndre Mathis are seeking to challenge Republican incumbent Insurance Commissioner John King.
Nikki Porcher and Michelle Sanchez are running for the Democratic nomination for labor commissioner. Republican incumbent Barbara Rivera Holmes did not have a challenger.
Early voting continues through Friday.
