As incumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss and his challenger Democrat Jim Martin found themselves preparing for a runoff election, the University’s College Republicans and Young Democrats began mobilizing voters.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting on Wednesday, Chambliss held 49.9 percent of the total votes, followed closely by Martin with 47 percent. Libertarian Allen Buckley received 3 percent.

In Georgia, congressional candidates must earn 50 percent of the vote plus one to be declared the winner. If Chambliss fails to send his lead over the edge, he and Martin will battle it out again in an election held on Dec. 2.

Though the candidates are preparing for another race, Chambliss may pull off a win in the regular election. An unknown number of early votes and absentee ballots, which could put the incumbent over the edge, are uncounted.

Like the candidates, University political groups are not taking any chances.

Students have already begun solidifying plans of action for the weeks leading up to the possible runoff.

Ally Wright, political director for the College Republicans, said she anticipates her group leading a full-fledged campaign to get out the vote for Chambliss.

“We will completely mobilize all of our forces to make sure [Chambliss] keeps his seat,” said Wright, a senior from Peachtree City.

Though plans are not yet definite, members of the College Republicans foresee the organization educating the University community about the election, contacting voters about Chambliss’ policies and helping students secure absentee ballots.

“People might not even know that there is a runoff,” Wright said. She said wants to encourage students to vote, regardless of their political leanings.

The Young Democrats plan to campaign heavily for Martin in the upcoming weeks, hoping to increase the Democratic majority in the Senate. The Democrats are just shy of holding the 60 seats required to stop a filibuster.

Andy Lipscomb, political director for the Young Democrats, said he was excited when he found out about the narrow margin between the two candidates. He said he hopes Georgia will support the president-elect by voting for Martin.

“Barack Obama won in a landslide fashion, and it’s important for Georgians to be on his side,” said Lipscomb, a senior from Cumming.

However, the Young Democrats recognize there’s much to be done before Dec. 2. Before the general election the group called undecided voters. They plan to call voters again for the runoff.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” said Bobby Andres, a junior member of Young Democrats from Marietta. “We really want to send Saxby home.”