Fulton County to explore vendors for texting and emailing voters after board discussion
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Summary
Director Williams said the county can access voters' email/phone from the state database when registered in Jarvis; board members asked staff to check vendors and consider an opt-in plan and funding to allow text/email reminders in 2026.
Fulton County election officials told the board on Dec. 5 they have a path to send messages to voters by text or email and will consult vendors to design a program for 2026.
Director Williams told the Board of Registration and Elections that the office received a report from the Georgia secretary of state that provides voter email addresses and phone numbers when voters included that information in their voter registration record in the county’s Jarvis system. With that data, the department is reaching out to vendors and coordinating with external affairs to determine whether the service must be competitively bid and what vendors could provide mass messaging to voters.
Board members asked whether other counties use texting or email for voter reminders; Director Williams said she will check with the tax assessor’s office and other counties to identify vendors and their practices. The department also plans outreach ideas, including flyers and on-site opt-in opportunities at polling places and voter-education events to collect contact information from voters who wish to receive electronic notices.
Director Williams stressed that for voters who do not have email or phone numbers in the voter registration file, the county will still send required precinct-change cards by mail. The department will not rely solely on electronic contact for legal notices that currently require mailed or posted materials.
Officials said vendor outreach and funding discussions will continue into 2026; no contract award or rollout timeline was approved during the Dec. 5 meeting.
"We did receive a response from the secretary of state. They were able to pull a report that provides us with the voters' email address and phone number if the voter put that information in their voter registration record in Jarvis," Director Williams said during the operations report. The board asked staff to return with vendor options and cost estimates before any service rollout.