Atlanta, Georgia – In Georgia, early voting has begun for the runoff election for the District 3 seat on the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). This election might affect how much people pay for basic services like electricity and natural gas.
Democratic candidates Peter Hubbard and Keisha Waites are running in this runoff since neither of them got a majority of the votes in last month’s primary election. Because Georgia law says that a candidate must get at least 50% of the vote to win outright, voters across the state will now choose which Democrat will face Republican incumbent Fitz Johnson in the general election in November.
The Public Service Commission has a lot of power over Georgia’s utility businesses. For example, it decides on rate hikes that affect the monthly bills of millions of homes. Because of this, the runoff’s results could affect how much electricity costs in Georgia for years to come.
This campaign is especially noteworthy because the seat is filled by a statewide vote, even though it is called District 3. That implies that everybody who is registered to vote in Georgia can vote in the runoff, no matter where they live. Georgians can vote early, which gives them an opportunity to do so before Election Day next Tuesday.
To minimize misunderstanding, election authorities advise all eligible voters to check the Georgia Secretary of State’s website to make sure they know where, when, and how to vote. Early voting will go on until the end of the week, giving voters several days to make their thoughts heard.
Many Georgians are already concerned about growing electricity rates and the state’s long-term energy policy, so the high-stakes contest is coming at a bad time. The decisions made by the commission can have an impact on everything from the speed at which renewable energy is used to the schedule and conditions for big infrastructure projects.
Both campaigns are trying to get their supporters excited and get them to the polls early because the state’s economy and people’s budgets are at risk. Election analysts think that fewer people will vote than in the primary, but the results will still be very important for deciding who will run against Commissioner Johnson in the general election.
People who don’t vote early can still vote on Election Day next Tuesday. Officials want to remind everyone to bring the right ID that Georgia election regulations say they need.
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