VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) — More than a thousand people are lining up daily in Lowndes County to cast their ballots in the two Georgia United States Senate run-off elections.
Lowndes County Supervisor of Elections Deb Cox says the office is averaging more than 1,600 voters per day.
Michael Williams was one of those voters Tuesday. He says he's tired of seeing young people complain about the government but never doing anything about it.
That's why he made sure he cast a ballot.
"It's not just for me that I'm doing this for. It's for my future, my niece and nephews' future, everyone around me future. This one choice to vote could change everything," said Williams.
Williams says he's more calm and confident about the runoff election than the General Election back in November.
"The last one, I was a lot more stressed because I was like, 'Oh, it's a big deal, the big thing. It's Presidential.' But this time, I knew what was important to me and my loved ones and what I felt was right for especially Georgia, so it was an easy decision," he said.
Rusty Fupch also cast a ballot in Lowndes County Tuesday.
"It was weighing heavy on me as a citizen of the United States, Lowndes County, to be able to come out and vote and cast your ballot," said Fupch. Fupch says he's disappointed in the outcome of the presidential election, but he believes that South Georgia will bring the Republican party a win.
"The Southern part of this state is just about all republican. When you get up to the north part around Atlanta, those cities up there are Democrat," said the lifelong republican.
Maggie Moody walked out of the Lowndes County Board of Elections Office, proclaiming to be a proud voter. She brought along two young voters. Both cast their very first ballots in November, making this time a quick second.
"It's important to model the expectation so that the legacy continues. Democracy continues. I'm excited to bring them to vote, " said Moody.
The excitement over this election is so high because the stakes are high.
Georgia voters will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.
Democrat Jon Ossoff is challenging Republican incumbent David Perdue in Senate Seat 1.
While democrat Raphael Warnock is coming after republican Kelly Loeffler's seat. Voters on both sides say COVID is the main factor to try and gain control. "I feel like this country as a whole hasn't dealt with COVID the way it should and we need to clamp down on that. The party that I voted for, I feel like they're really good for that, and they're going to really get their point across that we need to do this, this, and we'll support you throughout. COVID isn't just physical. It's mental and has affected a lot of people," said Michael Williams. While Michael Williams believes the democrat candidates are the best choice, Rusty Fupch says the country needs the republican choices. "The shape of this country with the virus and all taking place, it's crazy. It's been a crazy 2020, and I look forward to it being over," said Fupch. Lowndes County has received more than 6,000 mail-in ballots, Plus more than 14,000 people already voted in person. That makes this one of the biggest run-off elections in Lowndes County history.
Ahead of early voting, there was a push to get more people registered in time to vote. Florida based organizations even crossed county lines to help.
Lowndes County Election Supervisor Deb Cox says the increase in that time span was small. Cox says Lowndes County naturally has a high percentage of registered voters.
