This story, reported and edited by Atlanta Civic Circle, is being shared as a part of ACC’s editorial partnership with Canopy Atlanta’s Barriers and Bridges Election Project. Learn more about the series and the project here.
Now that Tuesday’s runoff elections have decided the remaining races from the May 21 general primaries, Georgians don’t have to think about going to the polls again until the Nov. 5 general election.
While the November election will draw much higher turnout because of the presidential race at the top of the ballot, it will actually have fewer contested local county and statehouse races on the ballot for voters to decide.
This is because many counties lean so heavily Democratic or Republican that the opposition party often doesn’t bother to field a candidate. The same is true for state House and Senate districts, because they’ve been so heavily gerrymandered in successive redistrictings to favor one party’s candidates that very few are considered competitive in a general election matchup. (Nonpartisan races, like judicial elections, are decided in the primaries by tallying the Democratic, Republican, and nonpartisan primary ballots.)
Continue reading this article at the site of our news partner Atlanta Civic Circle here.
I hope this story leaves you inspired by the power of community-focused journalism. Here at Canopy Atlanta, we're driven by a unique mission: to uncover and amplify the voices and stories that often go unheard in traditional newsrooms.
Our nonprofit model allows us to prioritize meaningful journalism that truly serves the needs of our community. We're dedicated to providing you with insightful, thought-provoking stories that shed light on the issues and stories that matter most to neighborhoods across Atlanta.
By supporting our newsroom, you're not just supporting journalism – you're investing in Atlanta. Small and large donations enable us to continue our vital work of uncovering stories in underrepresented communities, stories that deserve to be told and heard.
From Bankhead to South DeKalb to Norcross, I believe in the power of our journalism and the impact it can have on our city.
If you can, please consider supporting us with a small gift today. Your support is vital to continuing our mission.
Floyd Hall, co-founder
