Cobb County elections board approves two permanent polling sites, OKs temporary collocations

The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration on a special-called evening approved two permanent polling-location changes and moved to approve a larger set of temporary collocations to use through the remainder of the election cycle.

Chair opened a public hearing and turned the presentation to Michael, the elections office staffer, who told the board, “Luckily, we were able to find some permanent solutions,” while reviewing turnout data and distances for the proposed sites. The board approved Fair Oaks 04’s move to Milford Recreation Center (about 0.6 mile from the former site) and Oakdale 01’s move to the India American Cultural Association, which Michael said sits about 0.25 miles from the prior St. Thomas Catholic Church location. The motion to adopt the two permanent locations passed, recorded in the transcript as 4–0 with Reggie absent.

After the permanent-site approvals, the board considered a bundle of temporary collocations (listed on the agenda as items a–k). Michael explained how colocations affect equipment deployment, saying colocated precincts typically receive five “pole pads,” 10–12 poll workers and duplex scanners when bucket scanners are not practical because of space or power limits. He discussed specific relocations including Bells Ferry 02 (proposed move to Addison Culture Event Center, roughly 1 mile) and Marietta 4B (proposed move to a Cobb EMC/Custer Park location with more parking and power). Board members pressed staff on voter notification, signage at old precincts, address inclusion on signs, and targeted outreach via postcards, social posts and county channels.

A board member moved to approve the temporary locations listed on the agenda and to extend them (the motion’s wording included extending the sites “through the 2026”); the motion was seconded and approved as presented. Chair and staff later summarized the approvals as effective “through the end of the year.” The transcript records approval of the collocations; no uniform numeric tally for that motion is recorded in the transcript text provided.

Board members asked staff to follow up on site surveys, traffic control at school sites that coincide with drop-off/pick-up times, and targeted communications for precincts that are “new to the voters.” Michael said staff would coordinate with communications and legal where required and that deputies or law enforcement could be used to help with traffic flow at some school locations.

The board closed the agenda items and later moved into executive session for pending litigation at about 7:30 p.m.

Next steps: staff said they will finalize signage and communication materials for the newly approved locations, confirm site-survey findings, and return with any unresolved traffic-management plans or permanent alternatives for the remaining precincts.