Seminole County will not offer Saturday voting in runoff

The courts have determined that there can be Saturday voting in the U.S. Senate runoff between Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican candidate Hershel Walker., but that will not be the case in Seminole County.

Seminole County Superintendent of Elections Michael Jon Rogerson did not elaborate but simply said there would not be any Saturday voting here this Saturday, November 26.

The last day to request an absentee ballot for the runoff is Monday at 3 p.m.

Advance in-person early voting begins Monday, Noember 28 and continues through Friday, December 2 at the Seminole County Courthouse between the hours of 8 a.m and 5 p.m.

The runoff election will be conducted Tuesday, December 6 and polling places through Seminole County will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

A Fulton County Superior Court judge ruled Friday that holding early voting on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day is legal and may proceed.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office indicated shortly after the Nov. 8 election that put incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker into a runoff that Saturday, Nov. 26, would be set aside for early voting.

However, Raffensperger subsequently declared that holding early voting that day would violate a state law that prohibits runoffs on any day immediately following a state holiday. Besides Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Nov. 24, the following day, Nov. 25, is a state holiday.

Warnock’s campaign sued to force a reversal of Raffensperger’s decision and prevailed in Friday’s ruling.

“Allowing for Saturday early voting is a win for every Georgia voter, but especially for workers and students who will have a greater opportunity to make their voices heard in this election,” said Quentin Fulks, Warnock’s campaign manager. 

While Warnock held a slight lead over Walker following the general election, neither candidate captured a majority of the vote as required by state law to avoid a runoff. Georgia voters will return to the polls Dec. 6 to decide the winner.

Parts of this story were written by Dave Williams, Bureau Chief Capital Beat New Service.