LOWNDES COUNTY, GA — Election workers in Lowndes County are counting ballots from Tuesday's Georgia primary election, which kicked off the 2026 election season in the state.
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Voters turned out throughout the day Tuesday to weigh in on local and state races that will shape November's general election. Total voter turnout sits at 10.1%, according to the State's data hub.
Neighbor Shawkat Drye said civic participation brought him to the polls.
"I come out to every election. I think it's important that we participate in all of them, because it's our right, and it's a privilege, really," Drye said.
Community organizers say the stakes go beyond any single race. Melinee Calhoun, Senior State Organizing Manager for Georgia with Black Voters Matter, said her organization has worked to reframe how voters think about elections.
"You know, a big part of the work is really just helping people to understand that voting is not just about politics, but it's about power. It's about resources. It's about representation and the future of our communities," Calhoun said.
Election workers in Valdosta are counting all ballots Tuesday night to produce unofficial results.
"We put up the unofficial results, we'll post. And that goes to the Secretary of State's office, and you can find that on sos.ga.gov. And those results will be there," an election worker said.
The Lowndes County Board of Elections says certification of election results will take place Friday. Final results will be posted Tuesday, after Memorial Day.
Candidates who won their race but did not receive 50% of the vote will go to a runoff next month. Candidates who met that threshold now look ahead to the general election in November.
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