Cobb County May Change Polling Places Before November Election

Election officials in Cobb County, Georgia, are meeting Monday afternoon to talk about possible changes to voting locations and schedules before the November 3 general election. The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration will hold its meeting at 3 p.m. Some of the changes being discussed could affect where and how voters cast their ballots this fall.

The meeting's agenda includes public hearings about temporary polling locations in the Dobbins and Elizabeth areas of the county. Board members will also look at an updated early voting schedule for the November 3 election. Along with that, they will review new locations for absentee ballot drop boxes, which let voters return their ballots without mailing them.

One other big topic at the meeting is whether Cobb County should use a private company to mail absentee ballots. Right now, the U.S. Postal Service handles that job. Officials want to know if a third-party service might work better or faster for voters who choose to vote by mail.

Zachary Peskowitz is a political science professor at Emory University who studies elections in the United States. He said Cobb County is one of the largest counties in Georgia and plays a big role in statewide elections. Because so many people live there, the votes from Cobb County can help decide who wins elections across the whole state.

Peskowitz explained that Cobb County used to be a strongly Republican county, but that has changed over the past ten years. In 2016, most Cobb voters chose Democrat Hillary Clinton for president, and the county has leaned toward Democrats in presidential races since then. He said the county's growth, well-educated voters, and increasing diversity have helped bring about that political shift.

"Cobb County is a very important county, one of the most populous counties in the state," Peskowitz said. "And it's a big part of the reason that Georgia has become a much more competitive state where both Democrats and Republicans can win statewide office." His words show just how much weight the county carries in Georgia politics.

Peskowitz also warned that making changes to polling places or voting rules close to Election Day can confuse voters. He said last-minute changes do not happen very often, but when they do, people may not know where to go or what to expect. That confusion can make it harder for some people to vote.

Here are some important dates for Georgia voters to know. The deadline to register to vote is October 5, and early voting starts on October 13. Two Saturdays of advance voting — October 17 and October 24 — are required by state law, and some counties may also offer Sunday voting.

Cobb County voters can request an absentee ballot through October 23. If a voter fills out and mails an absentee ballot, it must arrive at the Board of Elections by 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. Voters can check their registration, find polling places, and see a sample ballot by visiting Georgia's My Voter Page online.