Georgia Starts June 8 Early Voting for Jackson-Jones Governor Runoff

Early voting for the June 16 Republican primary runoff between Rick Jackson and Burt Jones begins June 8 in multiple Georgia counties. The start comes days after the Counseling Compact took effect June 2, allowing licensed professional counselors in the state to practice in Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota and Ohio without additional licenses.

Runoff Narrows Contenders to Jackson and Jones

Rick Jackson, the billionaire healthcare executive who entered the race in February 2026 and self-funded more than $30 million, leads recent polling at 27 to 32 percent. Burt Jones, the lieutenant governor endorsed three times by former President Trump, sits second with roughly 24 to 25 percent and nearly $3.9 million raised. The runoff pits these two against each other after the May 19 primary.

Chris Carr, the attorney general who led external fundraising with about $4.9 million, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who raised $864,000 plus self-funded about $5 million, finished outside the top two. All four remain the leading figures in the eight-candidate Republican field for the open seat left by term-limited Governor Brian Kemp.

Counseling Compact Opens Cross-Border Practice

Georgia joined the Counseling Compact in 2021 as an early adopter yet began issuing practice privileges only on June 2, 2026. The state became the fifth to activate the agreement, according to the Counseling Compact Commission. Eligible Georgia licensed professional counselors can now treat clients in the four other compact states under the same license.

The compact removes the requirement for separate state licenses when counselors cross borders. It targets documented shortages in mental health services by letting providers reach patients in underserved areas without duplicative regulatory hurdles. Georgia officials processed the first privileges shortly after the June 2 launch.

Key Dates Align Election Access and Policy Rollout

The June 8 early voting window overlaps with the compact's first full week of operation. County election offices, including Athens-Clarke, opened sites that day for the runoff. Voters have until June 12 in most locations to cast ballots ahead of the June 16 decision.

The compressed calendar reflects deliberate state scheduling. Lawmakers passed the compact legislation years earlier, yet full implementation waited until the compact commission completed its technical rollout. The same period now sees both expanded counselor mobility and the final stage of the governor primary.

Ballots will determine the Republican nominee to succeed Kemp. The winner faces the Democratic nominee in November.