East Cobb residents can start casting ballots Tuesday, Oct. 13, at two neighborhood sites for the Nov. 3 general election. A $1.15 billion sales-tax renewal and the District 3 county commission seat top the ballot.
Two early voting locations will be open through Oct. 30: the East Cobb Government Service Center at 4400 Lower Roswell Road and the Tim D. Lee Senior Center at 3332 Sandy Plains Road. Weekday hours run 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday voting, noon to 5 p.m., is available only at the Government Service Center, according to the Cobb County elections office.
There is no early voting Monday, Oct. 12, because of the Columbus Day holiday, and none Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. On Election Day, voters must go to their assigned precincts.
A valid photo ID is required.
What's on the ballot
In the District 3 commission race, four-term Republican incumbent JoAnn Birrell faces Democratic challenger Kevin Redmon, according to the East Cobb News voter guide. As we reported Oct. 8, the two split on traffic and zoning priorities for the district.
In school board Post 4, three-term Republican incumbent David Chastain faces Democrat Micheal Garza. In Post 6, which covers part of the Wheeler High School zone, Democratic incumbent Nichelle Davis is unopposed.
$1.15 billion SPLOST renewal
The biggest dollar item on the ballot asks voters to extend a one-cent Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) for six years, from Jan. 1, 2028, through Dec. 31, 2033. Commissioners voted 4-0 on June 23 to place the question before voters. Chairwoman Lisa Cupid was absent.
The tax would direct $794 million to county projects and $355.5 million to Cobb's seven cities. East Cobb highlights include a $20 million relocation of the East Cobb Library from its leased space at Parkaire Landing Shopping Center to a new county-owned building. The SPLOST also funds an $8.2 million expansion of the Tim D. Lee Senior Center.
Road projects include $3.5 million for the Shallowford Road and McPherson Road intersection and $2.5 million each for the Johnson Ferry Road and Shaw Road corridors.
Cobb's sales-tax rate would stay at 6%, tied for the lowest in Georgia, according to the county's official SPLOST brochure. Cupid told Atlanta News First on Oct. 6 that if the tax fails, "we'll be looking at property taxes to provide funding."
Federal and state races
Republican John Cowan and Democrat Chris Harden are running for the open 11th Congressional District seat after U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk's retirement. In the U.S. Senate race, first-term Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff faces Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Collins. Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, are running for governor.
Five East Cobb state legislative seats have contested races: State Senate Districts 32 and 56, and State House Districts 44, 45 and 46. Three area legislators are running unopposed.
Three proposed amendments to the Georgia Constitution also appear on the ballot, covering conservation-use property acreage limits, nonpartisan probate court elections and a dedicated fund for 911 systems.
How to vote
Voters can cast early ballots at any Cobb location. Drop boxes are available at the East Cobb Government Service Center and Gritters Library at 880 Shaw Park Road during early voting hours. Absentee ballots must reach the Cobb Elections office or a drop box by 7 p.m. Nov. 3. Check registration and view a personalized sample ballot at mvp.sos.ga.gov.
