This story was published as part of our #APSVotes project with Atlanta Civic Circle to help shed light on APS school board elections. Read our school board election voting guide here.
Atlanta voters will return to the polls for a Dec. 5 runoff election to decide who will fill the final seat on the city’s Board of Education.
Four of the five board seats up for grabs were decided on Nov. 7, with three incumbents reelected and one newcomer joining the nine-person board that directs Atlanta Public Schools, manages the district’s $1.66 billion annual budget, and oversees 84 learning sites serving more than 50,000 students.
Board members Katie Howard, Erika Mitchell, and Jessica Johnson will return to their current seats, joined by Ken Zeff, who ousted District 3 incumbent Michelle Olympiadis.
Starting Nov. 25, voters will have the opportunity to head back to the polls to decide the citywide, at-large seat 7 matchup between incumbent Tamara Jones and contender Alfred “Shivy” Brooks.
Here’s what you need to know about key dates in the upcoming election and how you can show up to cast your vote one final time to determine who will sit on the board.
What dates do I need to know for this upcoming election?
Dec. 5 is the official election day in the runoff between Jones and Brooks. Polls will be open for city of Atlanta voters living in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Like any municipal election, there will also be a period of early voting.
Here are the most important dates you should keep in mind if you have plans to vote:
DeKalb County polls will open:
- Sunday, Nov. 26, from noon to 5 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, Nov. 27 – Dec.1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fulton County polls will open:
- Saturday, Nov. 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 26, from 2-5 p.m.
- Monday through Friday, Nov. 27 – Dec. 1, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The voter registration deadline has already passed for this election, so if you were not registered prior to Nov. 7, you will not be able to vote.
Voters also have the option to vote via absentee ballots. The last day to send in an absentee ballot is Nov. 27.
I already voted once. What does a runoff election mean?
Runoff elections are an extended matchup between two candidates. Typically, if neither candidate is able to obtain more than 50% of the vote during the general election, voters will be asked to return and vote on the matter again.
Georgia is one of two states — Louisiana is the other — that requires runoff elections when a general election ends without a candidate having a majority of the vote. In this instance, Jones collected 48.2% of total votes, while Brooks brought home 47.3%.
A third candidate, William Sardin, received 4.5% of the vote. Sardin has since conceded and publicly endorsed Brooks in the runoff.
My district has already been decided or wasn’t up for election. Can I still vote?
Yes.
Since at-large seat 7 is a citywide seat, all Atlanta residents are able to determine who will represent both districts 1 and 2.
How can I find my polling location?
Both Fulton and DeKalb counties have their advance polling locations listed on their election websites.
You can also head over to the Georgia Secretary of State website to check your polling site and see if anything has changed.
The city municipal clerk’s office also keeps an updated list of voting precinct maps per council district on its website.
