Runoff elections are coming to the Augusta area. Here's what voters should know.

Miguel Legoas, Augusta Chronicle

Tuesday was Primary Election Day and the area came out with some new leaders including two new members of the commissions for Augusta and Columbia County, and a new face was elected onto the Columbia County Board of Education. Other races resulted in re-elections for some of the local leaders.

However, multiple races could not be decided last night and now in a runoff. Here's a closer look at why this is, which races are going to a runoff, and what this means for Augusta-area voters:

What is a runoff and when does one occur?

No matter how far ahead the leader in a race goes, if the candidate on Election Day does not collect at least 50% of the vote plus one vote, a runoff election is required.

If there are more than two candidates in the race, the two with the highest vote counts will run against each other in the upcoming runoff.

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FILE - People hold signs outside Julian Smith Casino on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The day's votes concluded with three races across Richmond and Columbia counties requiring runoffs.
FILE - People hold signs outside Julian Smith Casino on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The day's votes concluded with three races across Richmond and Columbia counties requiring runoffs.

Who in the Augusta area will have a runoff?

According to the vote percentages (which are unofficial until certified by election officials), the following races that concern Augusta-area voters will require a runoff:

  • Democratic nomination for Richmond County sheriff. The runoff competitors are the incumbent, Richard Roundtree, and Eugene "Gino Rock" Brantley.

  • Superior Court judge on the Augusta Judicial Circuit succeeding Daniel Craig. The runoff competitors are Charles Lyons and Matt Matson.

  • Republican nomination for District 131 representative on the Georgia House. The runoff competitors Rob Clifton and Paul Abbott.

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When are the runoff elections?

The runoff election day is Tuesday, June 18. Early voting will be available a week before Election Day. The absentee ballot mailing period will run through June 7.

To access your polling location and other relevant info, go to mvp.sos.ga.gov.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Runoff election info, votes in Augusta, Richmond, Columbia counties

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