
Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton is offering additional information to help voters understand proposed tax exemptions that will appear on the November ballot.

Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton is offering additional information to help voters understand proposed tax exemptions that will appear on the November ballot.

Chattooga County Tax Commissioner Joy Hampton is providing additional information about two proposed senior property tax exemption changes that voters will consider during the November election, along with a reminder that the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) renewal will also appear on the ballot.

The Chattooga County Board of Elections and Registration will meet today (Tuesday) at 2 p.m. to officially call four special referendums that will appear on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot.

The Georgia State Election Board has approved two new election rules supporters say are designed to increase transparency and public confidence in the state’s voting process ahead of the 2026 elections. The rules were adopted during the board’s July meeting following public comment and debate.
One of the new rules requires that vote tabulation and consolidation be conducted in public, allowing election observers to watch the process as precinct-level results are combined into countywide totals. State law already allows authorized poll watchers to observe many aspects of the election process, and supporters say the rule further reinforces public access.
The board also approved a rule giving State Election Board members access to the Secretary of State’s election operations center, often referred to as the “election night bunker,” during elections. Supporters say the change provides additional oversight, while critics have questioned whether the board has the legal authority to require such access.
The rule changes come as Georgia prepares for the 2026 election cycle and continue an ongoing discussion over election administration and transparency in the state.

Early voting for the June 16, 2026 Primary Runoff Election will begin Monday, June 8, and continue through Friday, June 12, according to the Chattooga County Registrar’s Office.

Georgia voters will return to the polls on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, to decide several key statewide races that were not settled during the May primary election.
According to unofficial results released by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, runoff elections will be required in a number of contests, including races for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner, and Public Service Commission District 5.
Among the higher-profile runoff contests, Colby Maurin and Nabilah Parkes will face off in the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, while Greg Dolezal and John F. Kennedy advance to the Republican runoff.
In the Republican race for secretary of state, Tim Fleming and Vernon Jones will compete for the nomination, while Democrats Dana Barrett and Penny Brown Reynolds will meet in a runoff for their party’s nomination.
Several statewide races were decided outright in the primary, including the Democratic nominations for U.S. Senate, governor and attorney general, along with the Republican nominations for attorney general, agriculture commissioner and insurance commissioner.
Voters in Chattooga County and across Georgia who participated in the primary will have another opportunity to cast ballots in the runoff election on June 16.

Governor Brian Kemp says Georgia will not rush into redrawing its political maps following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, signaling that any changes will likely come later.

Northwest Georgia’s new representative in Washington is settling into his role after officially being sworn into Congress.

Time is running out for residents who want to take part in next month’s primary election in Georgia.

With Georgia’s primary election approaching, campaigns across the state are ramping up efforts as major endorsements and large amounts of campaign money begin to shape key races.