2026 election season kicks off with qualifying period next week

ALBANY – Voters in southwest Georgia will have a lot on their ballots for the May 19 general primary election, including statewide contests for constitutional officers, state representatives and senators, as well as local elections.

The campaign season kicks off in earnest next week with qualifying for elected office running Monday through Friday. Qualifying hours are from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m-noon on Friday.

On tap locally are potential contests in Dougherty County Commission Districts 2, 4 and 6 and the chairmanship, and in Districts 2, 4 and 6 for the Dougherty County School Board. If any candidate draws opposition within the same party, that contest would be on the May 19 ballot.

In addition, Dougherty County voters will have a floating local-option sales-tax (FLOST) initiative on the May ballot. If approved, a new penny sales tax would be added to the 8% tax already charged in Dougherty County, and the proceeds of the sales tax will be used to roll back the millage rate on property in Albany and Dougherty County.

Lee County has three County Commission seats and two for the school board in the 2026 election cycle in Districts 1 and 3 for both bodies. There is also an education special-purpose local-option sales tax (E-SPLOST) on the May 19 ballot.

Terrell County has County Commission Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 up for election in 2026.

“We’re hopeful it will be a good turnout,” Dougherty County Election Supervisor Ginger Nickerson said.

For potential voters, the next date to keep in mind is April 20, the last day for individuals who have not done so to register in order to participate in the May 19 primary election.

On March 2, Election offices can start accepting applications for mail-in ballots, Nickerson said. The last day voters can request an absentee ballot application is May 8.

Nickerson recommended that voters who plan to vote by mail to select the box that allows them to vote by mail throughout the 2026 elections without filling out an application for each ballot.

“Our elderly and disabled voters, please check the box to opt in,” she said. “They must check the box to opt in. Opt-in is only for voters 65 and older and the disabled.”

Voters can register in person at their local election office or online by visiting https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/voter-registration?IsRegisterNow=true.

“If you have a Georgia driver’s license, the signature is retrieved from the license on the (online) application,” Nickerson said. “If you don’t have a driver’s license, print and sign the application and mail it or hand-deliver it to our office.”

Individuals can check voter status by visiting https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/.

Voting in the May 19 general primary starts with early in-person voting on April 27, with the early voting period ending on May 15.