Early voting begins Monday for Georgia’s runoff elections for secretary of state and a seat on the Public Service Commission. Election Day is Dec. 4.

In each race, neither the Republican nor Democratic candidate got a majority of the vote. In both races, Libertarian candidates garnered more than 2 percent of the votes.

Democrat John Barrow of Athens faces Republican Brad Raffensperger in the secretary of state race. The winner will succeed Robyn Crittenden, appointed to the post by Gov. Nathan Deal after Gov.-elect Brian Kemp resigned following the Nov. 6 general elections.

Just 16,278 votes separated Barrow and Raffensperger in the general election, out of nearly 3.9 million ballots. Libertarian Smythe Duval got 86,696 votes, 2.23 percent of the total, according to the Georgia Secretary of State website, while Barrow received 48.67 percent and Raffensperger 49.09 percent.

In the District 3 Public Service Commission race, Democrat Lindy Miller hopes to unseat Republican incumbent Chuck Eaton. Eaton garnered 49.7 percent of the votes on Nov. 6, while Miller got 47.63 percent and Libertarian Ryan Graham 2.67 percent.

The early voting period for the runoff is much shorter than it was for the general election — just one week Nov. 26 through Nov. 30.

Registered voters can vote in the runoff whether or not they voted in the general election. There will be no Saturday voting.

In Clarke County, early voting will be at three places. Voters can cast ballots Monday through Friday at the Athens-Clarke County Elections Office at 155 E. Washington St. from 8 am. to 6 p.m.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, voters can also go to to City Hall, 301 College Ave., from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

And on Thursday and Friday, voters can go to the Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter St., between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Elections officials will begin mailing paper absentee ballots on Monday to those requesting them. To be counted, they must be received in the elections office by 7 p.m. on election day Dec. 4.

On election day, polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. More information is available at www.accgov.com/elections or by calling the Athens-Clarke elections office at 706-613-3150.

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