What are the Georgia ballot questions in the 2026 primary election?

Georgians voting in the May 19 primary will see several non-binding questions on their partisan ballots.

These questions do not enact any policies but rather function as polls.

Ballot questions can be proposed by the legislature or local government or put on the primary ballot by local and state parties, according to Robert Sinners, communications director for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.

Georgia voters who request a non-partisan ballot will not see any questions on their primary ballot.

Early voting for the May primary begins on April 27.

Georgia state Republican ballot measures

Georgia voters who request a Republican ballot for the May primary election will see a list of questions on a variety of issues.

1. Should Georgia enact the strongest election integrity measures possible, which may include hand marked paper ballots, fines for counties that refuse to maintain current voter rolls, and restrictions on no-excuse absentee voting to restore trust in elections?
2. Should Georgia prohibit judges from releasing criminal defendants accused of murder and other felonies without posting secure bail?
3. Should Georgia extend the death penalty to include sexual crimes against children?
4. Should the United States Constitution be amended to limit the number of Supreme Court Justices to a maximum of nine to prevent partisan court packing schemes?
5. Should Georgia require public school systems to make all instructional materials and library content publicly accessible online for parental review?
6. Do you support making Georgia energy-independent by prioritizing American oil/gas production, reducing regulations, and delivering lower energy costs for families?
7. Do you support banning cellphone use in Georgia public schools to improve student focus, safety, and discipline?
8. Should Georgia enact laws punishing state and local law enforcement who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in the deportation of illegal aliens charged with serious crimes?

The first question on voting methods comes as state lawmakers are trying to figure out how to administer the November election.

The current method of using QR codes to count ballots will expire in July, but the legislature did not pass a replacement this session. Several advocacy groups have urged Gov. Brian Kemp to hold a special session to sort the issue out.

Georgia state lawmakers also failed to pass legislation this session that would have held librarians criminally liable for not removing content “harmful to minors” from libraries, legislation that has received pushback from First Amendment and LGBTQ+ advocates who believe it amounts to censorship, often of LGBTQ+ subjects.

As it pertains to the question about immigration authorities, Georgia law requires local sheriffs to seek out 287(g) partnerships, which allow local law enforcement officers to take on the duties of federal immigration officers inside jails. However, the law is difficult to implement due to a lack of resources.

Moreover, some local governments, such as the City of Atlanta, have passed resolutions opposing the expansion or operation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement warehouses for the purposes of immigration detention.

Georgia state Democratic ballot measures

There are two questions on the ballot for Georgians who request a Democratic ballot for the May primary.

• Should the state of Georgia raise the sales tax on everyday items like clothing, food and school supplies to pay for an income tax cut that would make millionaires and billionaires richer?  
• Is it ethical for political candidates who have used their public offices to enrich themselves and their families, or have had nearly a billion dollars of business dealings with the state of Georgia, to hold statewide office?

Republicans introduced a slew of tax cuts during this year’s session, including further reductions to the flat income tax rate. Democrats have argued that the state would need to make up the lost revenue by raising sales tax, while Republicans argue that the legislation would not result in higher sales tax.

The second question on the Democratic ballot seems to target Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, the founder of Jackson Healthcare, which has received payments from state agencies. However, Jackson has indicated that contracts with the state would stop if he were elected as governor of Georgia.

Metro Atlanta county party ballot questions

Several county parties have also placed questions on the May primary ballot in Georgia. Here’s a look at those questions on the ballot in the metro Atlanta counties of Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett. Clayton County does not have any county party questions.

Cobb County

Here are the Cobb County Democratic Party’s questions:

• Do you support ending cannabis prohibition in Georgia?
• Do you support expanding MARTA into Cobb County?
• Should the Cobb County School Board be required to broadcast public comment during meetings and hearings required by law?
• Do you support legislation that targets a small group of elected officials from one political party?
• Should Georgia raise sales taxes on items like clothing, food, and school supplies to fund income tax cuts?
• Should elected school board members be subject to recall if found guilty of financial misconduct?
• Should changes to statewide voting procedures be prohibited within six months of an election?

There are no ballot questions for the Cobb County Republican Party ballot.

DeKalb County

Here are the DeKalb County Democrats’ questions:

• Should DeKalb County require public hearings and strict environmental impact studies for all new potential data center developments?
• Do you support your local law enforcement signing an agreement to act on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agents?
• Should DeKalb County increase mixed-use zoning to create more walkable, affordable neighborhoods?
• Is gun violence reduction in Georgia one of your top concerns?

Here are the DeKalb County Republicans’ questions:

• Do you know that you can get involved in your local volunteer Republican Party and help protect your community by going to https://DeKalbGOP.ORG/ and coming to one of our meetings?
• Should public school employees encourage, organize, or condone students receiving no disciplinary action for abandoning class during instructional time to “protest” politically charged issues?

Fulton County

Here are the Fulton County Democratic Party’s questions:

• Did you know that Georgia Republicans want to defund police and fire departments across 15 cities in Fulton County through their proposal to eliminate property taxes, which fund municipal services? 
• On January 28, 2026, the FBI raided the Fulton County elections office and took your personal data. Do you think they should have your personal voter data?
• Are you aware a sitting Republican Fulton County Board of Commissioner served as a witness, alongside other 2020 election conspiracy theorists, on the affidavit the FBI used to steal your private election information?
• Should known 2020 election deniers sit on the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections?

Here are the Fulton County Republican Party’s questions:

• Did you know that in the 2026 legislative session Democrat lawmakers blocked voters from deciding whether or not to eliminate property taxes on their primary residency by opposing House Resolution 1114?
• Do you know that the Fulton County Democrat Commissioners have been using your taxpayer dollars to block Republican Board of Registrations and Elections members from taking their lawful place on the board to provide bi-partisan oversight of Fulton County Elections?
• Do you believe the Georgia State Election Board should take over Fulton County elections to protect the integrity of our elections?
• Did you know there’s a Fulton County Republican Party that exists where you can help get Republicans elected and meet like-minded residents by visiting FultonGAGOP.org?

Gwinnett County

Voters living in Gwinnett County will not see additional county party ballot questions, but will have the chance to vote to enact an increase to an exemption from homestead property taxes collected by Gwinnett County Public Schools. If approved, the measure would prevent an additional $2,000 of the value of a homeowner’s primary residence from being taxed, for a total exemption of $10,000.