(APRIL 7, 2026) -- Advance voting for the May 19 General Primary opens later this month, and the Office of Elections & Voter Registration has been busy ensuring everything is ready, compliant and accessible.

The May 19 General Primary includes multiple federal, state, and local races. Residents can check their voter registration status, precinct location, and view a sample ballot at mvp.sos.ga.gov. Registration status is labeled as active (you regularly vote or update your registration), inactive (no contact such as voting or updating your record) in five years or no response to mailed notices, and canceled (no response after two full general election cycles while inactive). Those with a cancelled registration status must re-register to vote. April 20 is the last day to register to vote or update voter registration for this election. Visit cherokeegavotes.com for information.

Those needing to use absentee voting can go ahead and submit their absentee ballot applications. The deadline to submit the application is May 8. Elections staff will begin mailing absentee ballots to voters on April 20. Completed ballots must be received no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, May 19. Ballot drop boxes are available at the South Cherokee Annex/Recreation Center and the L.B. Ahrens Recreation Center. Both drop boxes are under video surveillance.

Advance voting will be offered for three weeks leading up to the General Primary, including two Saturday and one Sunday voting opportunities. Advance voting will be held April 27-May 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 4-May 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and May 11-May 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at locations across the county. A Sunday voting option at the Elections Office only will be held May 3, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Locations include the Office of Elections & Voter Registration, Ball Ground Public Library, Hickory Flat Library, Rose Creek Library, Oak Grove Fire Station Community Room, South Cherokee Annex/Recreation Center, and the L.B. Ahrens Recreation Center. Sunday voting will be held only at the Office of Elections & Voter Registration. Location addresses are available at cherokeegavotes.com.

“We appreciate the Sequoyah Regional Library System and Cherokee Recreation and Parks for their partnership in providing good locations for advance voting, as well as the Cherokee County School District for their partnership in assisting with Election Day voting,” said Elections Director Anne Dover.

Ahead of advance voting beginning, Elections staff has been hard at work ensuring all polling locations meet the Americans with Disability Act and training poll workers who will assist voters during advance voting and Election Day voting.

The public can observe in-person Logic & Accuracy testing beginning Monday, April 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Elections Office, 193 Lamar Haley Parkway, Canton. Testing will continue until it is completed.

For any questions, call 770-479-0407 or visit cherokeegavotes.com.