SB516: SB516 Elections and Primaries; Secretary of State to establish a grant program to assist counties with offsetting half of the cost associated with special elections; provide

When a state or federal office in Georgia becomes vacant, counties must run special elections to fill it, and county governments currently bear those costs on their own. This bill would direct the Secretary of State to set up a grant program that pays counties or county election superintendents back for half of the expenses tied to conducting these special elections. The program would only operate subject to appropriations, meaning it depends on the General Assembly actually setting aside money for it in the state budget. The bill adds a new section, O.C.G.A. § 21-2-20, to Georgia's election law chapter and repeals any conflicting laws, but it does not specify a funding amount or an application process.

• Creates a new grant program run by the Secretary of State to help counties cover special election costs.
• Limits the grant to covering half of the costs counties or county election superintendents incur running a special election for a state or federal office.
• Makes the program's operation dependent on the General Assembly appropriating money for it, rather than guaranteeing funding automatically.
• Adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 21-2-20, to Georgia's election law (Title 21, Chapter 2) to establish this authority.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new grant program.

County governments and county election superintendents across Georgia, who administer special elections, and the Secretary of State's office, which would run the new grant program. Georgia voters could see effects if the funding helps counties keep special elections running smoothly.

Special elections can strain county budgets, especially in smaller counties with limited resources. If funded, this program would offset some of that cost, potentially easing financial pressure on counties that must hold special elections to fill state or federal vacancies.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 21-2-20, directing the Secretary of State to establish a grant program 'subject to appropriations.'
• The grant program provides funds to counties or county election superintendents to offset half of costs tied to special elections for state or federal offices.
• Section 2 repeals any laws in conflict with the new provision, a standard clean-up clause rather than a substantive change.

1. 2026-02-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-02-17Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)Primary sponsor
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)

• special elections
• county government funding
• Georgia Secretary of State
• election administration