Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Democratic challenger Jim Martin geared up Wednesday for a runoff even as state and county election officials continue to sift through ballots to see whether a second vote is necessary.

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Some experts say it could take until Friday for all the results to be tallied. State officials must certify the election returns next week.

Chambliss leads in figures supplied by the Secretary of State’s Office, with 49.9 percent compared to Martin’s 46.7 and Buckley’s 3.4 percent. But Georgia law requires a runoff between the two top vote-getters when no candidate receives more than 50 percent.

Two other statewide runoffs on Dec. 2 were certain Tuesday. Sara Doyle and Mike Sheffield will go head to head for a vacant seat on the Court of Appeals. A Public Service Commission race between Democrat Jim Powell and Republican Lauren “Bubba” McDonald is also scheduled.

Floyd County will have no local runoffs on that date.

In addition to the statewide races, Polk County voters will decide a county board of education race. Democratic Jerry Baldwin (622) will square off against Republican Frank

Plant (611). Independent Chuck Thaxton was eliminated Tuesday with 606 votes.

In Gordon County, Probate Court Judge candidates Richie Parker and Dianne Kirby will face each other one more time.

Parker finished with 6,896 votes to Kirby’s 3,336, but failed to win a majority as

Russell Thomas had 3,114 and Joel Hall had 2,316.

Chattooga, Walker, Catoosa and Dade residents will settle the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit judge’s race between Brian House, who received 16,877 votes, and Larry Stagg, who received 9,766 votes. Eliminated Tuesday were J. Michael Giglio, 8,433; Christopher Arnt, 7,865; and Bill Rhyne Jr., 7,716.