ATLANTA — The Nov. 8 general election is less than five weeks away and several key races such as governor, secretary of state and a slew of congressional seats will be decided.

One of the most eyed races in Georgia is the governor’s race where Democrat candidate Stacey Abrams is challenging Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, for a second time.

Georgia’s U.S. Senate has importance for the state and nation as it will likely determine which party will control the U.S. Senate for the next few years.

In addition to other statewide races, seven Georgia congressional seats will be decided and ballots include proposals for two constitutional amendments and two statewide referendum questions.

The last day to register to vote in the election is Oct. 11. People should check their voter registration status or register to vote at https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov

CNHI has put together Georgia Voter’s Guide: 2022 general election for all readers need to know about the upcoming election:

How and when to vote

Absentee by mail

Absentee ballots will begin being mailed as early as Oct. 10. Applications for an absentee ballot can be requested online at https://securemyabsenteeballot.sos.ga.gov.People are required to enter their Georgia driver’s license or identification card number to be submitted with the application, or copy of it. The ID must be uploaded.

A copy of an ID is also required to send in a completed absentee ballot. The last day to submit an absentee ballot application is Oct. 28.

Early voting in-person

Early (advanced) voting will begin Oct. 17 and ends Nov. 4. Hours and locations vary by county, thus voters should check with their county elections office for voting locations and hours or check on the My Voter Page: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov.

Election Day in-person

On Election Day Nov. 8, voters must vote at their designated precinct which can be found on the My Voter Page: https://mvp.sos.ga.gov.

Ballot questions

There are two proposed constitutional amendments on Georgia ballots this year.

The first asks voters if the state’s constitution should be amended to allow the suspension of compensation for a list of elected state positions “while such individual is suspended from office following indictment of a felony?”

The other proposed amend to the state constitution asks voters to to decide if local governments and school systems should be authorized to grant temporary tax relief for/to properties in their respective jurisdictions that are severely damaged or destroyed due to a disaster “within a nationally declared disaster area”?

There are two statewide referendum questions.

One asks voters to decide if a statewide exemption for ad valorem taxes should be granted for certain equipment used by timber producers in the production or harvest of timber.

The other question asks voters to decide if a statewide exemption from ad valorem tax should be expanded for agricultural equipment and certain farm products “to include entities comprising two or more family-owned farm entities, and which adds dairy products and unfertilized eggs of poultry as qualified farm products with respect to such exemption.”

Highlighted races

See Page 12A for highlights on the races for governor, U.S. Senate and other major offices.

Early voting

Early voting begins Oct. 17 at the Colquitt County Courthouse Annex. Anyone wishing to vote with an absentee ballot must request it by Oct. 28 and return the completed ballot by 7 p.m. Nov. 8. Request the absentee ballot from the Registrar’s Office, 229-616-7056.