Walker County voters will head to the polls Tuesday for two special elections that will help determine representation for northwest Georgia in both Washington and Atlanta.
The most prominent race on the ballot is the special election to replace former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia’s 14th congressional district, which includes Walker County and much of northwest Georgia.
More than 20 candidates are seeking the congressional seat in what is known as a special “jungle primary,” meaning all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation. The field includes 16 Republicans, three Democrats, one Libertarian and one independent candidate.
If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote Tuesday, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff election scheduled for April 7. The winner will serve the remainder of the current congressional term through January 2027.
Walker County voters will also cast ballots in a special election for Georgia State Senate District 53. The seat became vacant after Colton Moore stepped down to run for the open congressional seat.
District 53 includes Walker, Catoosa, Dade and Chattooga counties, along with part of Floyd County.
Four candidates are seeking the Senate seat. Republican candidates include Denise Pierce Burns of Catoosa County, Blake Elsberry of Walker County and Lanny Thomas of Chattooga County. Democrat John Bentley “Jack” Zibluk of Walker County is also on the ballot.
Like the congressional race, the Senate contest is a special election in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff election on April 7.
Locally, voter turnout has already been strong. According to election officials, 4,744 ballots have been cast in Walker County through early voting and absentee-by-mail ballots ahead of Election Day.
Election officials are also reminding voters that the LaFayette polling location has moved. Voters who previously cast ballots at the LaFayette Senior Center will now vote at the county’s new elections building located at 311 South Main Street in LaFayette.
Polls across Georgia will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday, and voters in line at closing time will still be allowed to vote.
Officials stress that voters must go to their assigned polling location on Election Day. Anyone unsure of their polling place can contact the Walker County Elections Office or look up their information through the state’s My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov.
With large candidate fields in both races, election officials say runoff elections next month are a strong possibility.