PHOTOS: Athens voters cast ballots in Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff races
Even before the sun rose, Athens voters stood in line to cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff races. Georgia's voters will decide which political party controls the Senate with these two contested seats. Our photographers did not see many long lines this morning, as many voters chose to vote early or utilize mail-in ballots.
These photos were captured before polls opened at 7 a.m. until noon. To view a gallery of photos captured in the afternoon, 7 p.m. click here.
Before polls open at 7 a.m., Athens voters stand in line at J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School to cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Before polls open at 7 a.m., Athens voters stand in line at J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School to cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Right as polls open at 7 a.m., Athens voters enter J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School to cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Athens voters cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia at J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Athens voters cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia at J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Athens voters cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia at J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
The sun rises over J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School as Athens voters cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
A poll worker at J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School cleans voting equipment between users. Athens voters cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
An Athens voter casts their ballot for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Athens voters cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia at J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Athens voters cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia at J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Athens voters cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election at J.J. Harris Elementary Charter School in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Athens voters cast their ballots for Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election in Athens, Georgia at the ACC Multi-Modal Center on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Janet Hodges hands out stickers to voters that text three of their friends at Clarke Central High School. Voters made their way to the polls to vote for the U.S. Senate runoff on Jan. 5, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo/ Kathryn Skeean, kskeean@randb.com)
A voter walks through the doors of Clarke Central High School. Voters made their way to the polls to vote for the U.S. Senate runoff on Jan. 5, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo/ Kathryn Skeean, kskeean@randb.com)
Mark and Janet Hodges of Indivisible District 10 Georgia ask voters to text and remind their friends to vote. Voters made their way to the polls to vote for the U.S. Senate runoff on Jan. 5, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo/ Kathryn Skeean, kskeean@randb.com)
Poll workers sit at their stations at Clarke Central High School. Voters made their way to the polls to vote for the U.S. Senate runoff on Jan. 5, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo/ Kathryn Skeean, kskeean@randb.com)
A voter walks out of Gaines Elementary School after voting. Voters made their way to the polls to vote for the U.S. Senate runoff on Jan. 5, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo/ Kathryn Skeean, kskeean@randb.com)
Voters enter the Lay Park Community Center in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2020. Georgia's voters are participating in a runoff election to determine two U.S. Senate seats and one Georgia Public Service Commissioner seat. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Voters enter the Lay Park Community Center in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2020. Georgia's voters are participating in a runoff election to determine two U.S. Senate seats and one Georgia Public Service Commissioner seat. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Voters cast their ballots inside the Athens-Clarke County Library in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2020. Georgia's voters are participating in a runoff election to determine two U.S. Senate seats and one Georgia Public Service Commissioner seat. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Voters cast their ballots inside the Athens-Clarke County Library in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2020. Georgia's voters are participating in a runoff election to determine two U.S. Senate seats and one Georgia Public Service Commissioner seat. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Voters cast their ballots inside the Athens-Clarke County Library in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2020. Georgia's voters are participating in a runoff election to determine two U.S. Senate seats and one Georgia Public Service Commissioner seat. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
A first-time voter casts their ballots inside the Athens-Clarke County Library in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2020. Georgia's voters are participating in a runoff election to determine two U.S. Senate seats and one Georgia Public Service Commissioner seat. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Voters cast their ballots inside the Athens-Clarke County Library in Athens, Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2020. Georgia's voters are participating in a runoff election to determine two U.S. Senate seats and one Georgia Public Service Commissioner seat. (Photo/Taylor Gerlach; taylormckenziephotography.com)
Poll worker Brooklynn McNeil helps a voter at Fire Station 7. Voters made their way to the polls to vote for the U.S. Senate runoff on Jan. 5, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo/ Kathryn Skeean, kskeean@randb.com)
A voter waits in line at Fire Station 7. Voters made their way to the polls to vote for the U.S. Senate runoff on Jan. 5, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo/ Kathryn Skeean, kskeean@randb.com)
As featured on
The Jan. 5 Georgia Senate runoff elections are underway in Athens. Follow The Red & Black's live blog for updated election information, reactions and results.
Athens residents lined up to cast their votes for two U.S. Senate seats at polling places across Athens-Clarke County on Tuesday. The outcome of these runoff elections will determine whether Republicans continue to hold the Senate majority or Democrats gain control of both houses of Congress.
The U.S. Senate runoff elections that brought Georgia into the national spotlight have come to an end as Jon Ossoff secured a U.S. Senate seat and Senate majority for Democrats, as called by the Associated Press.
