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Georgia Senate elections live updates: Jon Ossoff projected to win Ga. Senate seat

The projected win cements Democrats' control of the Senate.

ABC News projected early Wednesday that Rev. Raphael Warnock will win the race against Kelly Loeffler and on Wednesday afternoon that Jon Ossoff is projected to defeat David Perdue. Together, the two projected wins hand Democrats control of the Senate.

For live updates on the vote totals, click here.


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Black voter turnout 'very encouraging sign' for Democrats in Georgia

The turnout of Black voters in Georgia’s runoff Senate races rose a percentage point from what it was in November, according to ABC News’ preliminary exit poll -- potentially a positive signal for Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

The African American turnout is "a very encouraging sign for Democrats. It shows that they’re getting their base out,” ABC News Political Director Rick Klein said on ABC News Live.

Preliminary exit poll reporting shows that Black voters account for 29% of the electorate in Tuesday's race, up from 28% in November.

The exit poll data indicates that 93% of Black voters turned out for both Ossoff and Warnock.

"[African Americans are] as reliable of a Democratic bloc as there is and so far the Democrats look like they did their job in getting them to the polls," Klein said.


Early voting turnout breaks records, Tuesday turnout too early to call 

More than 3 million voters in the Georgia runoff elections cast their ballots early -- 1,018,381 by mail and 2,074,994 early in-person -- according to Georgia Votes, already a record-setting figure for runoff elections.

The total early vote so far also includes 123,079 who did not participate in November's general election -- which is 35,000 more votes than the margin that separated Sen. David Perdue and Jon Ossoff the first time around, when the incumbent Republican edged out his challenger by just over 88,000 votes. Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Raphael Warnock were competing in a jungle primary in which the large field diluted their vote shares.

The secretary of state's office won't have Tuesday's in-person turnout numbers until at least 1 p.m. on Wednesday when counties are required to report how many ballots they received Tuesday in order to calculate the number of outstanding ballots. It may take days for the final results to become available depending on how close the races are.

Republicans are relying on high Election Day turnout, believing close to a million votes on Tuesday is likely their path to victory. At a rally in Dalton on Monday night, President Donald Trump signaled how many votes Republicans are eyeing: "I guess we have to get over a million votes tomorrow, right, Kelly? Over a million. All right. That's a lot of votes, Kelly, but we'll do it."

-ABC News' Quinn Scanlan, Kendall Karson and Meg Cunningham


Runoff voters nearly split on Senate control preference

The results of the runoff elections will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate -- and voters are nearly split on their preference, preliminary exit poll results show.

Forty-nine percent prefer Republican Party control, while 48% prefer control by the Democrats, based on the preliminary results.

The GOP needs either seat to retain control of the Senate, while the Democrats need both to win control.

Voters also were nearly split in their vote for president in the general election, based on the preliminary results -- suggesting that Democrats were holding their own in runoff turnout.

Voters in the race between Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Kelly Loeffler report having voted a dead-even 47%-47% Donald Trump-Joe Biden, preliminary results show. In the contest between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican David Perdue, it’s about the same -- 48%-47% Trump-Biden, based on preliminary results.

-ABC News' Gary Langer, Christine Filer and Steven Sparks


Most polls close across Georgia, advocates urge voters to stay in line

Polls across the state are closing as a flurry of advocates urge those who haven't voted and are still standing in line to stay past 7 p.m. and make sure their ballots are cast.

Georgia voters also had until 7 p.m. to return absentee ballots in drop boxes across the state.

A few polling precincts have gotten judicial extensions to be open past 7 p.m.: one in Gwinnett County, two in Columbia County, one in Tift County and two in Chatham County. There was also an accident near a polling place in Ware County that may lead to a judicial order extending poll closing time, said Gabriel Sterling, the state voting system implementation manager.

Sterling, in the most recent election update, described the day overall as "smooth voting, steady voting."

He said the state was getting reports of longer lines forming in Houston, Cherokee, Paulding and Forsyth counties with wait times approaching an hour, but not going over.

-ABC News' Quinn Scanlan


Raffensperger escorted out of state Capitol building, says deputy secretary of state

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and senior staffers have been escorted out of the state Capitol building after protestors gathered near the parking deck, according to Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs.

He told ABC News that the protestors are members of a militia.

Raffensperger and his staff were walked to their cars by Capitol police, Fuchs said.

The incident occurred as pro-Trump demonstrators breached the U.S. Capitol, forcing a lockdown with members of Congress.

--ABC News’ Quinn Scanlan