r/Georgia • u/WABEAtlanta • 11h ago
r/Georgia • u/happy_bluebird • 7d ago
Politics Georgia Voting Guide 2026
Key Dates
- Tues., Oct. 13 Early (advance) voting begins
- Sat., Oct. 17 Required Saturday early voting
- Fri., Oct. 23 Last day for county to receive absentee ballot applications
- Sat., Oct. 24 Required Saturday early voting
- Fri., Oct. 30 Early voting ends
- Tues., Nov. 3 Election Day (7 a.m.–7 p.m.); absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m.
- Fri., Nov. 6 Deadline to fix (cure) an absentee ballot problem or show ID for a provisional ballot
- Mon., Nov. 9 Counties certify results (5 p.m. Monday after the election; verify)
- Fri., Nov. 20 Secretary of State certifies statewide results (by 17 days after; verify)
- Tues., Dec. 1 Runoff election, if no candidate gets more than 50%
Make a Voting Plan
Choose to vote early in person, by mail or on Election Day.
- Vote early in person from Tues., Oct. 13 to Fri., Oct. 30.
- Vote by mail. Any voter can vote by mail. Request a ballot by Fri., Oct. 23. Request a mail ballot Return it by Tues., Nov. 3. Problem with your ballot? If there is a problem with your envelope, your county will tell you. Fix it by Nov. 6 with a form and your ID. Track your ballot
- Vote on Election Day, Tues., Nov. 3, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time. Find your polling place. Check the official ID rules so you bring the right ID.
- Have a past conviction?
- You can't vote while serving a sentence for a felony.
- Your right to vote comes back once you finish your full sentence, including parole, probation, and fines.
- You then need to register again.
What’s on Your Ballot
These are the biggest races in Georgia this year. Please note, we do not endorse any candidates.
Governor
- Keisha Lance Bottoms Democratic · Campaign site
- Former mayor of Atlanta (2018–2022) and former White House senior adviser.
- Rick Jackson Republican · Campaign site
- Founder and CEO of Jackson Healthcare, a health care staffing company.
Stance on key issues
Voting rights & elections
Keisha Lance Bottoms Democratic
Supports protecting local election officials from political interference, expanding early and absentee voting, making Election Day a state holiday, and vetoing maps that dilute minority voting power. Source
Rick Jackson Republican
No public position found.
Policing, prisons & public safety
Keisha Lance Bottoms Democratic
Supports more help for law enforcement plus 'targeted violence reduction efforts' and more diversion and treatment for nonviolent cases. Source
Rick Jackson Republican
Pledges to 'fully support law enforcement with resources, training, and respect' and to 'ban revolving-door justice.' Source
Immigration
Keisha Lance Bottoms Democratic
Says immigration enforcement should focus on violent criminals, not students, workers and mothers. Supports limiting zoning for private ICE detention centers and reviewing state contracts with ICE. Source
Rick Jackson Republican
Pledges to 'make Georgia number one in the nation for deporting all CRIMINAL illegal immigrants.' Source
Abortion & health care
Keisha Lance Bottoms Democratic
Supports restoring abortion rights and opposes Georgia's six-week ban. Supports expanding Medicaid and replacing the Georgia Pathways program with broader coverage. Source
Rick Jackson Republican
His campaign says he 'strongly supports Georgia's current Heartbeat law and will defend it as governor,' including its current exceptions. On Medicaid, has said he wants to measure success by how many people have commercial insurance. Source
Economy, taxes & cost of living
Keisha Lance Bottoms Democratic
Proposes eliminating local sales taxes on groceries and essentials and creating a state board to lower prescription costs. Source
Rick Jackson Republican
Proposes cutting the state income tax in half within four years and freezing property taxes 'immediately to stop runaway assessments.' Source
Housing
Keisha Lance Bottoms Democratic
Proposes faster permitting for housing, more down-payment and renter assistance, and a state affordable housing trust fund. Source
Rick Jackson Republican
No public position found.
Schools
Keisha Lance Bottoms Democratic
Supports fully funding public schools with an updated funding formula and creating a path to free technical and community college. Source
Rick Jackson Republican
Proposes freezing tuition, room and board at public colleges and technical schools, raising teacher pay, and banning 'ideological indoctrination in schools.' Source
Civil rights, DEI & LGBTQ+ rights
Keisha Lance Bottoms Democratic
Supports statewide nondiscrimination protections that include sexual orientation and gender identity, codifying marriage equality, and banning conversion therapy for minors. Source
Rick Jackson Republican
Proposes banning DEI programs in state government, public universities and classrooms. Says 'boys' should not compete in girls' sports or use girls' bathrooms or locker rooms. Source
Climate & environmental justice
Keisha Lance Bottoms Democratic
Supports a pause on new data centers, citing 'higher utility bills, strained water resources' and harm to nearby communities. Source
Rick Jackson Republican
Opposes a statewide pause on data centers and says local communities should decide. Source
U.S. Senate
- Mike Collins Republican · Campaign site
- U.S. representative for Georgia's 10th District since 2023; trucking business owner.
- Jon Ossoff Democratic, incumbent · Campaign site
- U.S. senator since 2021; former investigative documentary producer.
Stance on key issues
Voting rights & elections
Mike Collins Republican
Voted for the SAVE Act (April 2025), which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Source
Jon Ossoff Democratic, incumbent
Reintroduced the Right to Vote Act to create a federal legal right to vote. Source
Policing, prisons & public safety
Mike Collins Republican
No public position found.
Jon Ossoff Democratic, incumbent
Sponsored the Federal Prison Oversight Act, now law, which set up independent inspections of federal prisons. Source
Immigration
Mike Collins Republican
Has said 'we need mass deportations' (campaign site). Introduced the House version of the Laken Riley Act (2025), which requires detaining non-citizens charged with certain crimes. Source
Jon Ossoff Democratic, incumbent
Led a Senate investigation that found over 1,000 credible reports of human rights abuses in immigration detention. Has backed bipartisan border security bills. Source
Abortion & health care
Mike Collins Republican
Calls himself '100 percent pro-life' and supports Georgia's heartbeat law with exceptions. Opposed extending the enhanced ACA premium tax credits. Source
Jon Ossoff Democratic, incumbent
Opposes abortion bans and Georgia's six-week ban. Supported extending enhanced ACA tax credits and opposed Medicaid cuts. Helped pass the $35 monthly insulin cap for Medicare. Source
Economy, taxes & cost of living
Mike Collins Republican
Voted for the 2025 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' (tax cuts and spending changes). Calls for cutting regulations and cracking down on 'Medicaid scams.' Source
Jon Ossoff Democratic, incumbent
Has criticized tariffs for raising costs. Introduced legislation to cut taxes for farmers. Source
Housing
Mike Collins Republican
Supports faster federal permitting through his PERMIT Act to cut construction costs and delays. Source
Jon Ossoff Democratic, incumbent
No public position found.
Schools
Mike Collins Republican
No public position found.
Jon Ossoff Democratic, incumbent
Has pushed back on federal cuts to Hispanic-Serving Institutions and to civil-rights enforcement at the Education Department. Source
Civil rights, DEI & LGBTQ+ rights
Mike Collins Republican
No public position found.
Jon Ossoff Democratic, incumbent
Supported the Respect for Marriage Act and the Equality Act. Wrote a bipartisan law to help solve civil rights–era cold cases. Source
Climate & environmental justice
Mike Collins Republican
Introduced the Diesel Truck Liberation Act to block EPA truck emission rules. Source
Jon Ossoff Democratic, incumbent
Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act's clean-energy programs. Has pressed federal regulators on rising power bills tied to AI data centers. Source
Public Service Commission, District 3
- Peter Hubbard Democratic, incumbent · Campaign site
- Won this seat in 2025. Clean-energy analyst who founded the Georgia Center for Energy Solutions.
- Fitz Johnson Republican · Campaign site
- Army veteran and businessman. Served on the commission from 2021 to 2025.
Stance on key issues
Data centers
Peter Hubbard Democratic, incumbent
Says discounts for data centers push more than $1 billion in costs onto household bills. Source
Fitz Johnson Republican
Says he put protections in place so data centers pay their share. Source
Public Service Commission, District 5
- Thomas Blooming Libertarian
- Electrical engineer who has worked on Google and Facebook data centers.
- Shelia Edwards Democratic · Campaign site
- Cobb County business owner and former county communications staffer.
- Josh Tolbert Republican · Campaign site
- Smyrna engineer who has worked on power plants.
Stance on key issues
Data centers
Thomas Blooming Libertarian
Says data centers should build their own power. Source
Shelia Edwards Democratic
Says large corporate power users should pay their fair share instead of households. Source
Josh Tolbert Republican
Calls himself pro-data center, but says the costs belong to whoever causes them. Source
Ballot measures
- Amendment 1: Conservation use property acreage. Raises the most land one owner can enroll in Georgia's lower 'conservation use' property tax rate for farm and timber land, from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres. Yes means owners could get the lower farm/timber tax rate on up to 4,000 acres. No means the limit stays at 2,000 acres.
- Amendment 2: Nonpartisan probate judge elections. Requires all probate court judges to be elected in nonpartisan elections (no party label on the ballot). Yes means all probate judges would run without party labels. No means some counties could keep partisan probate judge elections.
- Amendment 3: Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund. Lets the legislature set aside certain existing revenues in a dedicated fund that can be used only to expand, maintain and run 9-1-1 emergency systems. Yes means A dedicated, protected fund for 9-1-1 systems can be created. No means no dedicated 9-1-1 fund in the constitution; money stays subject to regular budget rules.
Protect the Vote
- Apply to be a poll worker and support free and fair elections.
- Watch the count. Take a training to learn how to observe the polls.
- If anyone tries to stop you from voting or something at your polling place seems wrong:
- Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
- Call 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) — Spanish
- Call 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) — Asian languages
- Call 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) — Arabic
- If you’re in line when polls close, stay in line. You can still vote.
- If your name isn’t on the list, ask for a provisional ballot.
- Know your rights
Organizations to Support
- GALEO (Latino Community Development Fund). Latino-led nonpartisan group that registers voters and runs civic education across Georgia.
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Atlanta. Asian American and Pacific Islander civil rights group that does voter registration, education and protection.
- Black Voters Matter Fund. Atlanta-based, Black-led group that registers and turns out voters, especially in rural Georgia.
r/Georgia • u/AutoModerator • 2d ago
Politics [Megathread] Weekly Political Organizing Thread
This thread will be the central hub for all discussions regarding protests, marches, and general political organizing in the state of Georgia. r/Georgia mods will not vet the legitimacy of events posted, so make sure to do your own research before attending any events. All comments must still follow the Political post guidelines.
If you are an organizer who would like to post outside of this thread, please send a mod mail. All other protest posts will be removed going forward.
r/Georgia • u/ArcaneDemense • 5h ago
Politics We Now Have Two Days Of Georgia Early Vote: ~190,000 In Person Votes On Tuesday And ~174,000 On Wednesday | Black Vote Share Is A Record 34%
Looking at the county numbers we definitely see Republicans underperforming. This is relevant because usually Dem counties, in GA and every other state, like VA, pick up a lot near the end, especially if the highly populous counties open up new voting locations for the end of the voting period.
Also in Georgia the election day vote is usually better for Democrats than in other states because their voters vote later than you'd expect due to demographics.
Everyone needs to keep showing up, talking to everyone they know, and wearing their I Voted stickers around to encourage others in the community.
r/Georgia • u/PattyDurand • 6h ago
Politics Georgia, our young people are speaking and we need to listen.
Georgia Power is harming our climate with fossil fuels, and the Public Service Commission is letting them get away with it. We can help fix this by electing people who will stand up to Georgia Power and promote clean energy like solar.
37 students from around Georgia participated in this video series to spread awareness of this issue. Please watch the videos to learn about the harm Georgia Power is doing and how our votes can help. It will only take 15 minutes of your time. Thank you.
r/Georgia • u/Sleep_adict • 7h ago
Politics Why are republicans always at the top of the ballot?
Regardless of incumbent or not why is the republicans always at the top?
r/Georgia • u/Anoth3rDude • 11h ago
Politics Georgia Supreme Court skeptical of GOP bid to force election deniers onto Fulton County board
Question Anyone else see a free falling parachute around 6:50PM Cumming Area?
I was looking up at the sky and saw a parachuter and jokingly said "What if he just started free falling" and then a gust of wind looked like it inverted his parachute below him and he got caught in a insane fast spiral that went from like 500 to 100 in 3 seconds and just like that he was behind the treeline and I didnt see him. Then right on the side of the highway I see a parachute going insanely fast right above a gas station. I didnt catch the landing but I just was wondering if anyone else saw or has any information.
r/Georgia • u/ArcaneDemense • 1d ago
Politics Georgia early voting exceeds 148,000 ballots(currently 196,000 actually)
fox5atlanta.comr/Georgia • u/FreeManOf2077 • 8h ago
Discussion Furys Ferry Road (Hwy 28) Widening Errors
I talked with a GDOT worker about the Furys Ferry Road widening errors in Evans, GA.
I said that the left turning lane from Furys Ferry Road (SR 28 southbound/eastbound) to Malone Way (at Whitney Drive intersection) is marked as a u-turn lane instead of the left turning lane, that error needs to be fixed. Also the white sign (for lane split) on Furys Ferry Road (SR 28 northbound/westbound) towards (actually next to the yield sign at) Hardy McManus Road is too small that is hard to see from a far distance, especially for people on the left lane. If the project is complete and people in the left lane want to stay of SR 28 (soon SC 28) north after the roundabout, most drivers will miss seeing the sign, which can cause illegal lane changing during going through the roundabout, which can also cause multiple accidents. I also told them that putting big green guide signs (also showing lane split) located advanced away from the roundabout can help drivers being warned about the upcoming lane split before approaching the roundabout.
They respond to me with a bad attitude saying their paper planning map shows Malone Way neighborhood does not exist, therefore they were contracted to put that turn left lane as a u-turn lane. And they say that small white sign is a normal sized GDOT standard road sign.
I did submit a form to GDOT, but I don’t know if they would respond or do anything about it.
r/Georgia • u/MattCW1701 • 1d ago
Traffic/Weather Heads up: Trump landing at Dobbins to go to Dalton.
From approximately Friday noon till 4pm. Unless he has functions in both locations, based on the flight restrictions now posted, it appears he's landing at Dobbins and going to Dalton. Hopefully via Marine One, but possibly via motorcade. Either way, expect traffic issues in the region.
r/Georgia • u/WABEAtlanta • 1d ago
News Article 500 on hunger strike at Georgia immigration detention center
r/Georgia • u/FlexLikeKavana • 1d ago
Politics Keisha Lance Bottoms debates alone
r/Georgia • u/Exarkkun77 • 1d ago
Politics Go Vote!
Just finished early voting in Chatham Co. The place was busy but they kept the line running smoothly.
There was no intimidation from anyone towards anyone, no aggression, or tomfoolery anywhere. There actually wasn't much chatter among people at all. It was comfortable and easy.
r/Georgia • u/Old_Put2217 • 1d ago
Question What is this?
Saw this just now (6:35ish) above Milton. The dot on the left was slowly moving left, leave the bright stuff in its wake. What the heck is it?
r/Georgia • u/ArcaneDemense • 1d ago
Politics Today Is The First Day Of In-Person Early Voting(IPEV) In Georgia, Feel Free To Discuss Here Or Report On Lines At Your Precinct
I've followed Georgia EV for a long time. It has a lot to tell us about the final results. I'm expecting at least 3.2 million early votes this year, but it could go as high as 3.8 million. In 2024 IPEV+Mail was ~4,000,000. Unlikely to get that high this time but we will see.
We saw 1.9mil in 2018 and 2.3mil in 2022. 2.7mil in 2020. I expect the number could be much higher this year.
But depending on the first week I might revise my projection to be more EDay heavy.
If you see big lines while out voting today, be fascinated to hear what county.
Iirc there were ~150,000 EVs on the first day of 2022 statewide. Given that 2024 had way more early votes than 2020, wonder if we can crack 300k.
r/Georgia • u/PrincessMochahontas • 5h ago
Question How is it living/going to school in Cumming , GA as a person of color
I am a African American woman that will be going to school in Cumming , GA and I wanted to know how is it to live , work and go to school there. I won't be living in Cumming but close to it (Alpharetta). I ask this question because when I did bring it up to my parents they mentioned it being a sundown town and told me about the Forsyth County tensions in the 1980s but I have friends who are white , African/African American and South Asian that told me it's not like that or you'll be okay but if you're in certain areas (it makes me feel uneasy). Can anyone tell me how it is to living in Cumming,GA as a minority?
r/Georgia • u/itschrees • 1d ago
Other What is this?
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Just saw this outside before taking the kids to the bus. It’s also 6:38am. We’re in Powder Springs/Marietta GA. Please don’t mind the kids in the video haha
We are near a military base so guessing it’s something related to that?
News Article Man dies after falling off roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, police and witnesses say
r/Georgia • u/SOSImbeingbullied • 2d ago
Picture [OC] Gas War in Georgia Tonight. The lowest price before the 2 stations ran out was 1.09 and 1.10
r/Georgia • u/Consistent-Menu-6565 • 1d ago
Question Helping Immigrant-Owned Businesses in GA
Hi everyone! I'm a high school student from Forsyth County, and a few friends and I have started an initiative to help immigrant-owned small businesses and mom-and-pop shops with digital visibility and marketing.
We're currently looking for a restaurant to work with for our first pilot, since we had to choose a specific type of business to focus on. COVID was especially hard on smaller restaurants, and as more people rely on the internet to discover places to eat, having a strong online presence has become increasingly important. We want to help these businesses adapt and reach more customers, especially those that might not have the time or resources to focus on digital marketing themselves.
We'd be able to help with things like creating or improving a website so customers can easily find information about the restaurant, updating its Google Business listing so its hours, location, and menu are accurate, and improving its social media presence through content ideas and branding. We'd tailor the help to what each restaurant actually needs, and everything would be completely free.
We know there are a lot of small businesses that could benefit from this kind of help, but we've honestly been having a hard time finding a restaurant to work with for our pilot. If you know an immigrant-owned restaurant in Georgia that could use some help, or know someone who might be able to connect us with one, please let me know! We'd really appreciate any recommendations or introductions.
r/Georgia • u/theindependentonline • 2d ago
News Article Baby killed after high-speed police chase for a suspect on a suspended license ends in 10-car crash
r/Georgia • u/Puzzleheaded-Lab4571 • 1d ago
Question Best OB-GYN and Labor & Delivery in Atlanta?
Hey y’all! I’m looking for some honest recommendations on the best OB-GYNs and hospitals for labor and delivery in the Atlanta area.
I delivered my first baby at Emory Midtown. I wouldn’t say I had a bad experience, but this time around, I really want to explore my options. I’ve been leaning toward Northside, but the mixed reviews on different hospitals and doctors have me all over the place.
My next pregnancy would likely be considered high-risk, and I’d probably have a planned repeat C-section. I really want an OB-GYN who is experienced, attentive, compassionate, and actually takes the time to build a relationship with their patients. Ideally, I’d love for the doctor who cares for me throughout my pregnancy to be the one who delivers my baby.
For those who have delivered in Atlanta, who was your OB-GYN, where did you deliver, and would you recommend them? Especially if you had a high-risk pregnancy or C-section!
I’m looking for the BEST care, from the OB-GYN to the labor and delivery nurses and postpartum staff. I’d love to hear your experiences, good or bad! ❤️
r/Georgia • u/estusemucho69 • 2d ago



