DeKalb elections director reports 564,849 registered voters, $5.5M returned to county and proposes early-voting sites for possible HD 94 special election

Director Smith presented the department's operations and financial report at the Jan. 8 DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections meeting.

Registration and processing: As of Jan. 8 the department reported 564,849 registered voters in DeKalb County, including 485,050 active and 79,799 inactive registrants. Staff reported about 23,088 applications remained to be processed as of Jan. 5, with a high share coming from Department of Driver Services (DDS) transactions. Director Smith noted that during active election cycles the registration team may be unable to process incoming applications as quickly.

Elections schedule and special elections: Staff said the pension-board election the department facilitates is scheduled for Feb. 9 and that the House District 94 seat had been vacated; the county is awaiting the governor's call for any special election and is preparing for potential timelines and notice requirements, including absentee and UOCAVA applicants. The first day for absentee ballot applications for the May 19 general primary is March 2, the director said.

Budget and operations: The director said the 2025 reconciliation shows $5,500,000 remaining of the department's requested $14,600,000, attributing much of the remaining balance to fewer special elections and changes in staffing. Temporary salaries and temporary personnel-service lines showed large remaining balances (the director referenced roughly $2,000,000 in temporary-salaries and over $1,000,000 in temporary-personnel services). Director Smith said procurement, improved staffing and training contributed to lower expenditures and that the department will return unused funds to the county.

Outreach and logistics: Staff said they are hiring additional outreach workers, expect delivery of a mobile unit in June to support community events, and plan robust outreach ahead of the 2026 election cycle. Staff presented a proposed set of early-voting sites for a potential special election for House District 94: Memorial Drive (central office), New Bethel AME Church and Read An Trati Library. Board members discussed removing a placeholder date (March 17) from materials and making the motion clarify the date was a placeholder on the secretary of state's calendar; motion language was adjusted so locations are approved "in the event that a special election is called" and times/dates would align with the actual call.

The board approved the early-voting locations with a friendly amendment specifying House District 94.

Next steps: The department will finalize site logistics once the state issues a call for the special election and will continue outreach and staffing to support the 2026 election calendar.