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Irwin County election officials warn of long ballots and list dozens of qualified 2026 candidates
Summary
Irwin County elections officials released a long list of qualified candidates for the 2026 cycle and warned voters to expect multi‑page ballots and longer voting times on the May 19 primary. Officials recommended wide distribution of sample ballots and party assistance to reduce lines.
The Irwin County Board of Elections & Registrations presented a large field of candidates for the 2026 qualifying period and urged voter preparation to ease longer voting times.
Supervisor Ethan Compton, the county election supervisor, told the board on March 10 that several contests will appear on May ballots, including a special‑election Clerk of Superior Court contest that will place all qualified candidates on every ballot. Compton named the independent candidates who qualified for that contest as Triteasha Jones, Melissa Drawdy and Cindi Dunlap, and listed candidates for county commission and school board seats, including Don Hickey (County Commission District 2), Hal Roach (County Commission District 4) and Helen Rainey (County Commission District 4).
Compton said primary ballots will include party contests for governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate and House contests, state legislative contests, statewide offices such as attorney general and secretary of state, and numerous nonpartisan judicial races and a school SPLOST referendum. He gave three summary counts for May ballots: “Republican voters: 67 candidates/options across 30 contests; Democratic voters: 64 candidates/options across 28 contests; nonpartisan voters: 23 candidates/options across 15 contests,” and contrasted those totals with a maximum of 35 candidates/options across 27 contests on the 2024 primary ballot.
To help voters, Compton recommended wide distribution of sample ballots and suggested local party organizations assist their voters in obtaining sample ballots so voters know what to expect at the polls. “Voters should expect to spend roughly twice as long as normal in the voting booth to complete their ballots for this election,” he said.
Compton also reported the office collected $4,739.10 in qualifying fees for the elections office, with $54 forwarded to the Irwin County Democratic Party and $54 to the Georgia Republican Party.
On procedural matters the board approved the agenda and minutes at the start of the meeting. Vice‑Chair Patricia Thurman moved to approve the agenda and minutes; Chairman Waymond Harris seconded and votes were recorded as 2‑0 for each approval. The meeting adjourned later with a 3‑0 vote.
The board set the May 19 primary as the next major date; Compton advised voters and local groups to distribute sample ballots and other guidance ahead of the election to reduce polling‑place delays.
