Georgia CommonsSenate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 422: Elections and Primaries; the date of most municipal elections shall be in even-numbered years; a one-year extension to the terms of office of most municipal officers; provide
Last action February 4, 2026 · Senate Read Second Time
Senate Bill 422 would move most Georgia municipal elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years starting after 2026, giving many current city officeholders an extra year in office to make the switch.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Right now, most Georgia municipal elections are held in odd-numbered years, separate from the even-numbered-year cycle used for state and federal races. This bill amends Georgia's election code (O.C.G.A. Title 21, Chapter 2) so that, starting with elections held after December 31, 2026, general municipal elections would instead be held in even-numbered years, aligning them with state and federal election cycles. To make that transition work, any municipal officer in office on December 31, 2026 would have their current term extended by one extra year. That extension would not apply to municipal officers who serve two-year terms in cities that already use staggered terms under a specific local-law provision (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-541.2). The bill also updates the primary election date rules and the local-law provisions governing municipal terms of office to match the new even-numbered-year schedule, and it repeals conflicting laws.
What the bill does
- Changes the default date for general municipal elections in Georgia from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, effective for elections held after December 31, 2026.
- Extends the term of any municipal officer in office on December 31, 2026 by one additional year to ease the transition to the new election schedule.
- Exempts municipal officers serving two-year terms in cities with staggered terms under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-541.2 from receiving the one-year term extension.
- Removes the option for municipal primaries to be held on the third Tuesday in July of odd-numbered years, aligning municipal primary timing with the even-numbered-year cycle.
- Updates the local-law authorization in O.C.G.A. § 21-2-541.2 so that general municipal elections created by local law are held in even-numbered rather than odd-numbered years.
Who it affects
Sitting municipal officials such as mayors and city council members across Georgia, city governments that must update election schedules and notices, county and municipal election officials, political parties running municipal primaries, and voters in municipalities who will see elections shift to even-numbered years.
Why it matters
Voters would likely see municipal races on the same ballot as state and federal contests instead of in separate off-year elections, which could change turnout patterns. Many sitting officials would serve an extra year before facing re-election, delaying when voters get to weigh in on their performance.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 21-2-9(c) so general municipal elections held after December 31, 2026 occur in even-numbered years instead of odd-numbered years.
- Section 1 grants a one-year extension to municipal officers in office on December 31, 2026, except those on two-year terms in cities with staggered terms under § 21-2-541.2.
- Section 1 requires 30 days' public notice of municipal elections in a local newspaper and notice to the Secretary of State, continuing existing practice.
- Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 21-2-150 to remove the option for municipal primaries in odd-numbered years, aligning them with the even-numbered-year general primary schedule.
- Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 21-2-541.2 so local laws governing municipal election dates use even-numbered years instead of odd-numbered years as the default.
- Section 4 repeals all laws in conflict with the Act.
From the bill
“any municipal officer in office on December 31, 2026, shall have their term of office extended for an additional year so as to transition municipal elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered years”
“provided, however, that such extended term shall not apply to those municipal officers elected to two-year terms of office in municipalities that also have staggered terms of office pursuant to Code Section 21-2-541.2”
Discussed in meetings (4)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
Senate Ethics Committee, February 2, 2026
From 0:41:47 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would move odd-year municipal elections to even years, extend affected terms by one year and override conflicting city charters. Citing local turnout generally between 10% and 20%, the sponsor said combining elections would increase participation. Members questioned extending terms beyond what voters approved, including local term limits. One suggested shortening the next term instead; others suggested May elections to avoid December runoffs or allowing cities to opt in. No such changes were adopted. A Georgia Municipal Association witness opposed the bill, saying larger races could overshadow local issues and nonpartisan campaigns. The witness also raised transition costs, charter changes and possible vacancies requiring special elections. A member disputed the witness’s skepticism about savings. Another member raised concerns about assigning correct city-district ballots, which the witness said had not been studied. The Georgia National Organization for Women witness supported the bill, predicting higher turnout, savings and a simpler calendar, and reported 14% turnout in the witness’s district’s last election. A citizen witness worried about losing municipal elections’ community focus and suggested other savings approaches, including hand-marked paper ballots. A member suggested changes involving special sales-tax elections and drop boxes, but the chair clarified there was no formal motion. Members split 5-5 twice on passage; the chair broke the tie in favor.
Status timeline
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Timothy Bearden (R, SD-30)
- Sam Watson (R, SD-11)
- Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
- Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
- Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)
- Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
- Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
- Russ Goodman (R, SD-8)
Topics
- municipal elections
- election law
- local government terms of office
- election scheduling