ATLANTA — Runoffs are here to stay in Georgia, at least for now, as Republican lawmakers instead focused on the priorities of election critics: restricting outside funding, banning drop boxes and enabling challenges to voters’ eligibility.
The General Assembly declined to vote on eliminating runoffs, an idea that enjoyed the support of 58% of Georgia voters who participated in a statewide poll by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in January.
Georgia is one of only three states in the nation, along with Louisiana and Mississippi, that requires runoffs when candidates fall short of winning a majority in general elections. Most other states award victory to whichever candidates win the most votes, even if they receive less than 50% of the total.
