January 5, 2021:  President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden have urged voters in Georgia to turn out for elections on Tuesday to decide which party controls the Senate.

Mr. Trump, a Republican, and Mr. Biden, a Democrat, said the votes for two Senate seats would shape the US for years.

More than three million Georgians have already cast ballots, nearly 40% of the state’s registered voters.

If the Democrats win, they will control all of Congress and the White House.

Under Georgia’s state election rules, the runoff is needed because none of the Senate candidates received more than 50% of the vote in November’s US election. Voting begins at 07:00 (12:00 GMT) and ends about 12 hours later.

The vote will decide the balance of power in the US Senate.

Republicans are currently in control, holding 52 of the 100 seats. If both Democrats win on Tuesday, the Senate will be evenly split, allowing incoming Democratic vice-president Kamala Harris the tie-breaking vote.

This would be crucial for pushing through Mr. Biden’s progressive agenda, including critical issues such as health care and environmental regulations and intense Republican opposition problems.

The Senate also has the power to approve or reject Mr. Biden’s nominees for cabinet and judicial posts.

If Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock both win, it will bring the White House, Senate, and the House of Representatives under Democratic control for the first time since President Barack Obama’s election in 2008.

Mr. Biden told voters, “Georgia, the whole nation is looking to you. The power is literally in your hands.”

Mr. Biden also aimed at Mr. Trump, accusing him of “whining and complaining” about November’s presidential election result rather than concentrating on the Covid-19 pandemic.