While 2025 is an off-year for most elections, all Georgia voters will soon have a chance to go to the polls to cast ballots in a special election for two seats on the state’s Public Service Commission. At the same time, some Southeast Georgia voters will be choosing their local elected officials.
Georgia typically doesn’t have statewide elections in odd-numbered years, but a legal fight led to the 2024 PSC elections being pushed back.
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While members of the commission must live in certain districts, they are elected statewide. That practice was challenged in court as being discriminatory to Black people, but the legal fight ultimately left the statewide voting method in place.
The five-member Georgia Public Service Commission sets rates and oversees generation plans for Georgia Power, and oversees some rates for natural gas utilities.
Following party primary elections held this summer, the following candidates will be on the ballot:
District 2 (term ending Dec. 31, 2030)
- Tim Echols (Republican – incumbent)
- Alicia M. Johnson (Democrat)
District 3 (term ending Dec. 31, 2026)
- Fitz Johnson (Republican – incumbent)
- Peter Hubbard (Democrat)
Election Day will be on Nov. 4. Prior to that, there will be nearly three weeks of early, in-person voting opportunities.
Below are the dates, times, and locations for early voting in each Southeast Georgia county, along with any municipal elections that will also be on the ballot.
Brantley County
Brantley County does not have any additional local elections this fall.
Early voting will be offered at the voter registration & elections office at 10305 N. Main St. in Nahunta, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following dates:
- Oct. 14-18 (Tuesday-Saturday)
- Oct. 20-25 (Monday-Saturday)
- Oct. 27-31 (Monday-Friday)
Camden County
Camden County does not have any additional local elections this fall.
Early voting will be offered at the Camden County Annex Building’s Satellite Elections Office at 107 N. Gross Rd. in Kingsland, during the following dates and times:
- Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Oct. 14-17 (Tuesday-Friday), Oct. 20-24 (Monday-Friday), Oct. 27-31 (Monday-Friday)
- Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Oct. 18 & 25
Charlton County
In addition to the statewide elections, all Charlton County voters will face a choice in a special election for a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax:
“Shall a special 1 percent sales and use tax be imposed in the special district of Charlton County for a period not to exceed six years and for raising an estimated $8,000,000 to fund capital outlay projects, including road, bridge, and sidewalk improvements; public safety vehicles, equipment, and facilities; water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure; recreational facilities and equipment; government buildings and equipment; and technology enhancements?”
Within the city of Homeland, there are three contested city council seats:
Post 1
- Tommie Spikes
- Joseph K. Taylor (incumbent)
Post 2
- Delbert Shelton (incumbent)
- Janna Richmond Simpson
Post 3
- Vicky L. Dowling
- Brian R. Lloyd (incumbent)
Most early voting will be at the elections office at 1520 Third St., Suite C, in Folkston, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the following dates:
- Oct. 14-17 (Tuesday-Friday)
- Oct. 20-25 (Monday-Saturday)
- Oct. 27-31 (Monday-Friday)
On Saturday, Oct. 18 only, early voting will be at the Saint George Community Center at 13063 Florida Avenue in Saint George. Voting will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be no early voting at the Folkston office that day.
Clinch County
In addition to the statewide elections, Clinch County has a countywide special election for a probate/magistrate judge. There are five candidates in this non-partisan race:
- April Thomas
- Elexis Williams
- Kassi Knight
- Missy Prescott Westmoreland
- Tony Spradley
Early voting will be offered weekdays and Saturdays from Oct. 14-31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Board of Elections, at 25 Court Square in Homerville.
Glynn County
All voters in Glynn County will have the statewide elections on their ballot.
Voters within the city of Brunswick will also face choices in some local government elections. There is a contested race for mayor, as well as a question over a homestead exemption.
Mayor:
- Cosby H. Johnson (incumbent)
- Vincent T. Williams
Brunswick Ad Valorem Homestead Exemption:
“Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from City of Brunswick ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in an amount equal to the following percentages off the assessed value of a homestead based upon the number of years the owner has owned the homestead: (1) Five years or less: 5 percent; (2) Six to ten years: 10 percent; (3) Eleven to 20 years: 20 percent; (4) Twenty-one to 29 years: 30 percent; and (5) Thirty years or more: 50 percent?”
Early voting will be offered at three locations, weekdays and Saturdays from Oct. 14-31:
- Board of Elections office, 1709 Gloucester St., Brunswick
- Ballard Community Building, 30 Nimitz Dr., Brunswick
- Fire Station #2 – St. Simons Island, 1929 Demere Rd., St. Simons Island
On weekdays, early voting will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday early voting will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pierce County
In addition to the public service commission seats, all Pierce County voters will face a choice on an ESPLOST, or Educational Sales Tax.
Also, voters in Patterson and Blackshear will see some local government offices on the ballot.
Pierce County Special Election – Educational Sales Tax
This ballot question will extend a current education sales tax.
“Shall a one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes be imposed in Pierce County for a period of time not to exceed five years (20 consecutive calendar quarters), beginning upon the termination of the existing sales and use tax for educational purposes presently in effect, in order to raise not more than $25,000,000 of net proceeds by said tax for the purpose of (a) retiring on a current basis previously incurred general obligation debt of the School District in a maximum amount of $6,044,100 and (b) funding the following capital outlay projects at a maximum total cost of $18,955,900: for acquiring, constructing, renovating, improving, modifying and equipping Blackshear Elementary School, Board of Education / Central Office, Pierce County High School, Pierce County Middle School, Midway Elementary School, and Patterson Elementary School including grounds, parking, safety and security needs, and (c) instructional materials, including but not limited to, physical education equipment, weightlifting and fitness equipment, vocational materials, band, choral and fine arts equipment, textbooks, media center books and equipment; and (d) school buses, bus cameras, bus routing and management technologies, maintenance and transportation vehicles, mowers and lawn maintenance equipment?”
Blackshear Mayor
- Keith Brooks (incumbent)
- Gena Harris
- Marie S. Rainge
Patterson City Council Seat 2
- Ray Douberly
- Jim Echols (incumbent)
Patterson City Council Seat 4
- David W. Bowen
- Racquell Scott
- David Smith (incumbent)
Early voting will take place at the Pierce County elections office at the Courthouse Annex, 312 Nichols St., Suite 2, in Blackshear.
Voting will be offered on weekdays from Tuesday, Oct. 14, through Friday, Oct. 31, as well as on two Saturdays: Oct. 18 and Oct. 25. Early voting each day will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ware County
All Ware County voters will see the two statewide races, plus a sales tax referendum, on their ballot.
In addition, most voters in the city of Waycross will see a city commission race for their district on the ballot.
Ware County Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) Referendum
“Shall a special 1 percent sales and use tax be imposed in the special district of Ware County for a period of time not to exceed 20 calendar quarters for the purpose of property tax relief in the City of Waycross and Ware County, Georgia as provided in Title 48, Chapter 8, Article 2b of the Official Code of Georgia?”
Waycross City Commission Races:
District 1
- Willie Oliver
- Shawn Roberts (incumbent)
District 2
- Ayana Moore
- William D. Simmons
- Barry Worley
District 3
- Katrena Felder (incumbent)
- King Goree
- Shawn Sanders
,
- Tim Peacock
- L. Slaughter-Titus
- William Tompkins
Early voting will be offered at the Ware County Board of Elections at 408 Tebeau St., Waycross, during the following dates and times:
- Weekdays, Oct. 14-31: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturdays, Oct. 18 & 25: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.