Here is a look at some of the key contested races in metro Atlanta.
Residents should contact their local elections office if they have any questions about the complete ballot, or when, how and where to vote.
Visit ajc.com for the AJC’s comprehensive election coverage and results on election night.
CITY OF ATLANTA
Elections office
Fulton County Government Center
141 Pryor St. SW #4075
Atlanta, Ga. 30303
404-612-7020
https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/services/voting-and-elections
In Atlanta, voters will decide a referendum that would create a new City of Atlanta homestead exemption that reduces by $30,000 the assessed value of homes located on land owned by a non-profit, known as a community land trust. The trusts have long-term (99+ year) leases with homeowners that require the homes to be sold at affordable prices. As with all other homestead exemptions, homeowners are required to apply for it.
Cherokee County
Elections & Voter Registration Office
2782 Marietta Highway, Suite 100
Canton, GA 30114
(770) 479-0407
Only one local issue: "Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from City of Holly Springs ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in the amount of up to $409,900.00 of the appraised value of the homestead for residents of that city who are 62 years of age or older?”
CLAYTON COUNTY
Elections office
Jonesboro Historical Courthouse, Main floor
121 South McDonough Street
Jonesboro, GA 30236
(770) 477-3372
https://www.claytoncountyga.gov
In heavily Democratic Clayton County, controversial Sheriff Victor Hill will face write in candidate Dwayne Fabian, a retired Georgia State Trooper. Hill is popular in Clayton County but has been criticized for his management of the sheriff’s office. Fabian says he would be a more transparent sheriff.
Sheriff: Victor Hill (I), Democrat; Dwayne Fabian, Write-In
Sunday alcohol sales: “Shall the Clayton County Board of Commissioners be authorized to permit and regulate Sunday sales of distilled spirits or alcoholic beverages for beverage purposes by the drink from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.”
COBB COUNTY
Cobb County Elections and Voter Registration Office
736 Whitlock Avenue NW, Suite 400
Marietta, GA 30064
(770) 528-2581
https://www.cobbcounty.org/elections
Four-term Republican Sheriff Neil Warren is facing a challenge from Democrat Craig Owens, a major in the Cobb County Police Department. In the race for commission chairman, incumbent Republican Mike Boyce is seeking a second term against Democrat and District 4 Commissioner Lisa Cupid.
Three Republican Cobb County School Board members also face Democratic opposition.
Incumbent Randy Scamihorn is being challenged to a third term by Democrat Vickie H.W. Benson. Brad Wheeler faces Democrat challenger Lindsey Terrebonne. Republican David Banks is vying for a fourth term against Julia Hurtado.
District Attorney: Republican Joyette Holmes (i) vs. Democrat Flynn Broady
Clerk of Superior Court: Republican Rebecca Keaton (i) vs. Democrat Connie Taylor
District 2 Commissioner: Democrat Jerica Richardson vs. Republican Fitz Johnson
Board of Education Post 1: Republican Randy Scamihorn (i) vs. Democrat Vickie H.W. Benson
Board of Education Post 5: Republican David Banks (i) vs. Democrat Julia Hurtado Board of Education Post 7: Republican Brad Wheeler (i) vs. Democrat Lindsey Terrebonne
SPLOST: Voters will be asked whether to continue the 1% Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. If approved, the tax is expected to collect $750 million over a six-year period.
DEKALB COUNTY
Elections office
4380 Memorial Drive, Suite 300
Decatur, GA 30032
404-298-4020
https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/voter-registration-elections/our-mission
The most interesting local item may be the county’s second referendum on ethics legislation in as many years.
The new proposal eliminates ethics board appointments made by non-elected entities, which the Georgia Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional, and replaces them with appointments from DeKalb’s state House and Senate delegations. It also would maintain the county’s ethics officer position while adding a new administrative position, which supporters say would add balance when adjudicating complaints against county employees and officials.
The other intriguing local race pits incumbent District 1 Commissioner Nancy Jester, the board’s lone Republican, against Democrat Robert Patrick, a former Doraville city councilman.
Ethics question: “Shall the Act be approved which revises the Board of Ethics for DeKalb County?”
County Commission, District 1: Republican Nancy Jester (I), Democrat Robert Patrick
Sheriff: Democrat Melody Maddox (I), Republican Harold Dennis
RELATED
Douglas County
Elections & Voter Registration
8700 Hospital Drive, 1st Floor, County Courthouse
Douglasville, GA 30134
(770) 920-7213
https://www.celebratedouglascounty.com/274/Elections-Voter-Registration
Democrats and Republicans continue their tug-of-war for control. Voters will settle two school board races and the contests for tax commissioner and clerk of Superior Court.
Tax Commissioner: Michael R. Richardson Jr., Republican; Greg Baker, (I) Democratic incumbent;
Clerk of Superior Court: Tammy M. Howard, (I) Republican; Annetta Danley Stembridge, Democrat;
Board of Education District 1: Francisco X.R. Artley, Republican; Devetrion Caldwell, (I) Democrat;
Board of Education District 5: Glenn T. Eastwood, Republican; Rita Fasina-Thomas, (I) Democrat.
Also, on the ballot: “Shall the Act be approved that authorizes Douglas County to utilize tax allocation districts and redevelopment powers under the “Redevelopment Powers Law,” as it may be amended from time to time?”
FAYETTE COUNTY
Elections office
Stonewall Administrative Complex 140 Stonewall Avenue West, Suite 208
Fayetteville, GA 30214
(770) 305-5408
https://www.fayettecountyga.gov/elections/
Incumbents Barry Babb, the Republican sheriff, and Charles Oddo, the Republican District 3 commissioner, are hoping to keep their seats as they face Democratic challengers Chris Pigors and William Lightle respectively for the positions.
County Commission District 1: Vickie Butler, Democrat; Eric Maxwell (I), Republican
County Commission District 5: William Lightle, Democrat; Charles Oddo (I), Republican
Sheriff: Chris Pigors, Democrat; Barry Babb (I), Republican
Board of Education District 1: Candice Aaron, Democrat; Randy Hough, Republican
City of Tyrone
City Council Post 3 (non-partisan): Billy Campbell, Danny Dolan, Matt Griffin, Eric T. Woods Sr.
Town of Brooks
Town Council (non-partisan): Donald Britt, Kay Brumbelow
FULTON COUNTY
Elections office
Fulton County Government Center
141 Pryor St. SW #4075
Atlanta, Ga. 30303
404-612-7020
https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/services/voting-and-elections
There are two contested county commission races in Fulton County.
In District 2 on the Northside, incumbent Republican Bob Ellis, elected in 2014, faces Democrat Justin Holsomback, who unsuccessfully ran to represent District 34 in the 2016 primary.
In District 4, which covers Fulton’s portion of the city of Atlanta, incumbent Democrat Natalie Hall, elected in 2014, is being challenged by Republican Barbara Gresham, a teacher who lives in Southwest Atlanta.
GWINNETT COUNTY
Voter Registrations and Elections Office
455 Grayson Highway, Suite 200
Lawrenceville, Ga. 30046
676-226-7210
Gwinnett voters this fall will choose the majority of the board of commissioners, including a new chair. They will pick a new sheriff after Republican Butch Conway decided not to seek reelection, and will consider replacing the longtime District Attorney, Republican Danny Porter.
Hanging in the balance is the Republican-majority leadership, which has been in place for decades.
Transit expansion is again on the ballot, as is a sales tax renewal for schools.
The election could also bring major change to the Gwinnett County Board of Education, where Democrats are challenging two longtime Republican incumbents. The board could also become much more diverse; in each district up for a vote, there is a Black candidate on the ballot. Gwinnett’s first Black board member, Everton Blair, was elected just two years ago.
Chairman, County Commission: David Post (R), Nicole Love Hendrickson (D)
District 1 County Commission: Laurie McClain (R), Kirkland Carden (D)
District 3 County Commission: Ben Archer (R), Jasper Watkins, III (D)
Sheriff: Luis “Lou” Solis Jr. (R), Keybo Taylor (D)
District Attorney: Daniel J. “Danny” Porter (I) (R), Patsy Austin-Gatson (D)
Clerk of Superior Court: Tiana P. Garner (D)
Tax Commissioner: Richard Steele (I) (R), Tiffany Porter (D)
Board of education
District 1: Carole Boyce (I), Karen Watkins
District 3: Mary Kay Murphy (I), Tanisha Banks
District 5: Tarece Johnson
Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: vote for two. Travys Harper, Ellis R. Lamme (I), Matthew R. Retter (I)
ESPLOST: The Gwinnett County Board of Education is seeking to extend a penny sales tax for education for five years. It would raise an estimated $985 million for land acquisition, technology and other infrastructure for schools. It would go into effect July 2022.
Gwinnett transit referendum: This penny sales tax would raise an estimated $12.2 billion over 30 years to pay for transit expansion in Gwinnett County. It would go into effect April 21.
RELATED
Learn more about Gwinnett referendums for transit and taxes on Nov. 3
How the Gwinnett transit vote in 2020 differs from the referendum rejected in 2019
Hall County
Elections Office
2875 Browns Bridge Road (Lower Level)
Gainesville, GA 30504
(770) 531-3931
https://www.hallcounty.org/249/Elections
Republicans are in charge here, and only one local election remains on the Nov. 3 ballot. Hall County voters pick two candidates to serve as supervisors for the Hall County Soil and Water Conservation District. Running are Todd Chapman, Michael Crow, and incumbent Mike Haynes.
HENRY COUNTY
Elections office
40 Atlanta Street
McDonough, GA 30253
(770) 288-6448
https://www.co.henry.ga.us/Departments/D-L/Elections-Registration
Henry County residents will choose a new sheriff this November and decide whether to stick with several incumbent leaders, including County Commission Chairwoman June Wood and 2nd District Commissioner Dee Clemmons.
Sheriff: Reginald Scandrett, Democrat; Jack Redlinger, Republican
County Commission Chair: Carlotta Harrell, Democrat; June Barnes Wood (I), Republican
County Commission District 2: Dee Clemmons (I), Democrat; Steve Richardson, Republican
Superior Court Clerk: Sabriya Hill, Democrat; Barbara Harrison (I), Republican
Paulding County
Office of Elections & Voter Registration
240 Constitution Boulevard
Dallas, GA 30132
(770) 443-7503
www.paulding.gov/216/Elections-Voter-Registration
Squaring off for the commission chairmanship are Republican incumbent Dave Carmichael and Democrat Taurus Madric-Morris.
Republican incumbent Jeff Fuller faces Democrat Selena Jackson Guines for the at-large school board seat, while Republican incumbent Theresa Lyons is being challenged by Democrat Omassis Mendonca for the District 1 school board seat.
Paulding voters are also being asked to decide on the proposed creation of a Paulding State Court.
Spalding County
Spalding County Elections & Voter Registration Office
825 Memorial Drive
Griffin, GA 30223
(770) 467-4245
https://www.spaldingcounty.com/department/elections-voter-registration/
The sole local contest will be the race District 3 Democrat County Commissioner Rita Celeste Johnson and Republican challenger Tyler Brannon.
