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March 10, 2026

Election Day Arrives for District 14 U.S. House, Georgia Senate District 53 Special Elections

Local News, Local News Items #AbsenteeBallots, #AdvanceVoting, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyElections, #ChattoogaCountyGeorgia, #District14, #ElectionDay, #GeorgiaElection, #georgiapolitics, #GeorgiaSenateDistrict53, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #SpecialElection, #Vote2026, #wzqznews 0

Today, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, is Election Day for the Special Elections for U.S. House of Representatives District 14 and Georgia Senate District 53.

The Chattooga County Elections and Registration Board reminds voters that ballots must be cast at their assigned polling location.

Polling places open today include:

Gore Fire Hall
Lyerly Community Center
Former Menlo City Hall
Chattooga County Civic Center
Trion Recreation Department

Election officials report that 1,837 ballots were cast during Advance Voting, which has now concluded.

As of 8:30 a.m. on March 9, a total of 74 absentee-by-mail ballots had been issued. Of those:

59 ballots have been accepted
1 ballot has been spoiled
14 ballots remain outstanding

The deadline to request an absentee-by-mail ballot has already passed. However, absentee ballots may still be returned until 7 p.m. today. Ballots must be mailed or hand delivered to the Chattooga County Registrar’s Office, located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville.

Voters with questions about polling locations or ballot status are encouraged to contact the Chattooga County Elections and Registration Office.

March 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Advocates Warn of Urgent Need for Disability Support Services in Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #CommunitySupportPrograms, #DisabilityAdvocates, #DisabilitySupportServices, #GeorgiaDisabilityServices, #georgianews, #GeorgiansWithDisabilities, #georgiapolitics, #HealthcareInGeorgia, #MedicaidWaivers, #wzqznews 0

Advocates for Georgians with disabilities say the state faces an urgent need for expanded support services, warning lawmakers that many families are struggling to access essential care.

March 9, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Several Floyd County Commission Races Contested After Qualifying Ends

Local News, Local News Items #CountyCommission, #Election2026, #FloydCountyCommission, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaElections, #georgiapolitics, #LocalGovernment, #LocalPolitics, #northwestgeorgia, #northwestgeorgianews, #PrimaryElection, #RomeGA, #wzqznews 0

Qualifying has officially ended for the May 19 primary election and the November 3 general election, setting up several contested races for the Floyd County Commission.

In Floyd County Commission Post 1, incumbent Rhonda Wallace will face a Republican primary challenge from Shane Cowan.

In Post 4, incumbent David Thornton is being challenged in the Republican primary by Bryon Eugene Benefield. The winner of that race will face Democrat Fred Adams in the November general election.

The Post 5 seat, currently held by Scotty Hancock, is open as Hancock is not seeking re-election. Ronnie Kilgo, Cleve Jackson, and Tonya Eden Shepard will compete in the Republican primary, with the winner advancing to face Democrat Shonna Bailey in November.

March 9, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Chattooga County Voters Head to the Polls Tuesday in Two Special Elections

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CongressionalDistrict14, #District53, #ElectionDay, #gapolitics, #georgianews, #georgiapolitics, #GeorgiaSenate, #LocalPolitics, #northwestgeorgia, #SpecialElection, #StateGovernment, #USCongress, #VoteGeorgia, #wzqznews 0

Voters in Chattooga County will head to the polls Tuesday to take part in two important special elections, one for Georgia State Senate District 53 and another for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Both races were triggered by recent political changes and will determine who fills the remaining terms in those seats.

March 9, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Several Georgia Bills With Potential Impact on Northwest Georgia Survive Crossover Day

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CrossoverDay, #EducationPolicy, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaBills, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgianews, #georgiapolitics, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #PropertyTaxes, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #SchoolSafety, #StateCapitol, #StateGovernment, #WalkerCountyGA, #wzqznews 0

Several measures that could affect residents in Northwest Georgia are still alive in the Georgia General Assembly after lawmakers met last week’s Crossover Day deadline, one of the most important milestones of the legislative session. Crossover Day marks the point when most bills must pass either the House or Senate in order to continue moving forward this year, and a number of proposals tied to schools, taxes, public safety, and the courts made it through.

March 8, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Lawmakers Race Against the Clock on Crossover Day

Local News, Local News Items #AtlantaGA, #CapitolNews, #CrossoverDay, #georgiageneralassembly, #GeorgiaLawmakers, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgianews, #georgiapolitics, #GoldDome, #GovernmentNews, #Lawmakers, #Legislation, #LegislativeSession, #PoliticalNews, #PublicPolicy, #StateCapitol, #StateGovernment, #statenews, #wzqznews 0

Georgia lawmakers worked down to the final hours on Crossover Day, one of the most important deadlines of the legislative session, as they rushed to move bills through the House and Senate before time ran out.

March 7, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

PFAS Concerns Continue in Northwest Georgia as Proposed Legislation Could Affect Chattooga County Lawsuit

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #CommunityNews, #EnvironmentalHealth, #EnvironmentalNews, #ForeverChemicals, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgiapolitics, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #PFAS, #PublicHealth, #WaterQuality, #WaterSafety, #wzqznews 0

Concerns over PFAS contamination — often called “forever chemicals” — continue to affect communities across Northwest Georgia, including Chattooga County, as lawmakers debate legislation that could change how pollution cases are handled in the state.

March 6, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Last Day to Vote Early in Special Election – Election Day Next Tuesday

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyGA, #chattoogacountynews, #CivicDuty, #CommunityNews, #EarlyVoting, #ElectionDay, #GA14, #GeorgiaElection, #georgiapolitics, #GeorgiaSenateRace, #GetOutAndVote, #LocalElections, #LocalGovernment, #northwestgeorgia, #SpecialElection, #summervillega, #USHouseRace, #VoteGeorgia, #wzqznews 0

Today is the final day of early voting in the upcoming Special Election. Voters in Chattooga County will be voting for a candidate to fill the seat vacated by Colton Moore in the Georgia Senate. Also, voters will be casting their ballot in the 14th District U.S. Congressional Race to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in the U.S. House of Representatives. All early voting in Chattooga County takes place at the Chattooga County Registrars Office, located at 10017 Commerce Street in Summerville. Voting hours today are from 8:30 AM until 5 PM. Bring a picture ID when you come to vote. Next Tuesday, Election Day, all voting will take place in local precincts across the county. Voting on Tuesday will be from 7 AM – 7 PM. No voting will take place at the Registrars Office on Election Day.

March 6, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Rep. Eddie Lumsden Highlights Budget Passage and Education Legislation During Seventh Week of Session

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #EarlyLiteracy, #eddielumsden, #EducationPolicy, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaBudget, #georgiahouse, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgiapolitics, #HomelessnessPrevention, #InsuranceReform, #MathEducation, #northwestgeorgianews, #SchoolSafety, #StateCapitol, #wzqznews 0

State Representative Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee), who represents Chattooga County and part of Floyd County, says the Georgia House completed a busy seventh week of the 2026 legislative session as lawmakers approach the important Crossover Day deadline. The week included extensive committee work and the final passage of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 state budget, which totals about $43.6 billion and includes billions in surplus funding. According to Lumsden, the budget prioritizes taxpayer relief, transportation improvements, expanded mental health services, and investments in the state’s prison system, along with a one-time $2,000 salary supplement for educators and state employees.

March 5, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia SB 94 Would Restore Consumer Utility Advocate for Rate Cases

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerProtection, #EnergyCosts, #GASenate, #georgiapolitics, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicServiceCommission, #RateCases, #ResidentialCustomers, #RomeGA, #SB94, #smallbusiness, #StateCapitol, #UtilityBills, #wzqznews 0

A bill advancing at the Georgia Capitol could bring back an independent watchdog for ratepayers as power costs remain a major concern for families and small businesses across Northwest Georgia.