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Cobb County elections board approves two early-voting sites if District 2 runoff occurs
Summary
The Cobb County Board of Elections voted unanimously Feb. 11 to offer in-person advance voting at the main elections office and the Smyrna Community Center if a March runoff is required in District 2. The board approved matching hours at both sites, March 3–7, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
The Cobb County Board of Elections voted unanimously Feb. 11 to open two in-person advance-voting sites if a runoff is required in State House District 2.
The board approved an early-voting schedule that would open the main elections office and the Smyrna Community Center Monday through Friday, March 3–7, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. if a runoff is necessary. The motion was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote.
Board members said the decision responds to geography and voter access within District 2. During public comment, resident Sally Riddle urged the board to keep two locations in that district, saying the Smyrna and Spain offices are “not that close together” and that many voters “seem very tied to the Smyrna Community Center when they go to vote there.” Director Stacy Paul presented two formal proposals for the board to consider: one that would open only the main office, and one that would open both the main office and the Smyrna Community Center. Paul explained that staff recommend making the decision now in case the Democratic primary in District 2 requires a runoff.
Paul also reviewed turnout figures for the regular election earlier that day: she said the county recorded 5,640 election-day ballots — about 2.35% turnout for election day — and that, when combined with advance in-person (AIP) and absentee-by-mail (ABM) returns, total ballots cast reached 8,982, or roughly 3.74% of registered voters. Paul told the board that 50 ballots were mailed in one batch earlier and 42 had been returned (41 countable pending one cure).
Board member discussion cited voter convenience and established hours. One board member noted that voters expect a 7 a.m. start and 7 p.m. close and recommended keeping the standard 7–7 schedule at both sites rather than shortening hours because two locations were used.
The motion as approved sets the advance in-person (AIP) schedule for the possible District 2 runoff to March 3–7, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., at the Cobb County elections main office and the Smyrna Community Center.
The board also scheduled upcoming meetings related to certification and a pre-certification meeting on Feb. 14 and Feb. 17; members noted calendar adjustments that will follow if the March runoff proceeds.
