AARP Poll: Georgia U.S. Senate Elections Are Dead Heats

Georgia voters have mostly made up their minds on whom they will vote for, according to the survey, which found that just 5 percent of respondents were undecided. The runoff elections became necessary when none of the Senate candidates garnered at least 50 percent of the votes in November. Georgia is one of just two states that require runoff elections when no candidate for a seat in Congress wins a majority of the votes in the general election.

“These results show that both races are a dead heat and time is running out for candidates to address the concerns of 50-plus voters,” says Debra Tyler-Horton, AARP’s Georgia state director. “To win, candidates must discuss the issues that matter to 50-plus Georgians now — like preventing cuts to Social Security and Medicare, lowering drug prices and protecting seniors in nursing homes.”      

AARP also asked Georgia voters their opinions on a number of issues. Among the major findings:

• Among Georgians 50 and older, 55 percent would be willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine if it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration and provided free to Americans, but a third say they would not agree to be vaccinated. The first coronavirus vaccines were being delivered to states on Monday, with health care workers and nursing home residents and staff the first groups targeted for vaccination.
• A majority of all voters (61 percent) and even more 50-plus voters (69 percent) say that it’s more important for elected officials to support Social Security and Medicare than to reduce the federal deficit.
• Honesty in government is the highest-rated issue among 50-plus voters, with 56 percent ranking it extremely important as they decide whom to vote for on Jan. 5. Jobs and the economy (49 percent), Social Security (45 percent) and the coronavirus (42 percent) are the next most important issues to 50-plus voters.
• The majority of 50-plus voters prefer a candidate who focuses on providing financial relief to people and businesses hurt by the economic slowdown over a candidate focused on deficit reduction.