Board adopts 2026 calendar, consolidates March meetings and reassigns May Sunday advanced voting
February 10, 2026 | Augusta City, Richmond County, Georgia
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The Richmond County Board of Elections on Feb. 9 adopted the 2026 meeting calendar with several scheduling adjustments and heard a data‑driven presentation on advanced voting patterns from prior elections.
The board voted to consolidate three March meetings — the pre‑certification, the regular monthly meeting and the certification meeting — on March 13 at the elections warehouse, starting with pre‑certification at 3:00 p.m., the monthly meeting to follow at 3:05 p.m., and the certification meeting scheduled at 3:10 p.m. The staggered start times were proposed to allow notice flexibility for each distinct meeting purpose and were adopted after a motion and an amendment to the motion.
For the May primary and nonpartisan election, staff recommended moving the board’s single Sunday advanced‑voting day off Mother’s Day. Member (unnamed) moved to change Sunday voting from May 10 to May 3 and to set pre‑certification on May 22 (with a possible continuation to May 26 if needed); the board approved the reorganization of May meeting dates.
Elections staff presented a 2024 advanced‑voting analysis using poll‑pad timestamps from elections when four advanced voting locations were open. The analysis found consistent peak turnout between about 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the lowest use during 8:30–9 a.m. and the final hour 5–6 p.m. Staff said opening earlier than 8:30 a.m. or extending beyond 6 p.m. would raise costs without evidence of substantially increased turnout based on the two elections studied. Staff suggested any change in advanced‑voting hours be planned for 2028 and include public input so poll‑worker shifts and staffing could be arranged.
Member comments ranged from endorsing a pause on immediate changes because of the heavy 2026 election workload to suggesting trial changes such as shifting hours (for example, 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.) rather than extending total staffing hours. The chair concluded staff should continue collecting turnout data through the 2026 elections and revisit the topic in 2027 ahead of planning for 2028.
Next steps: the board approved the calendar as amended; staff will implement the May and March scheduling changes and continue collecting voting‑hour data for future adjustments.
The board voted to consolidate three March meetings — the pre‑certification, the regular monthly meeting and the certification meeting — on March 13 at the elections warehouse, starting with pre‑certification at 3:00 p.m., the monthly meeting to follow at 3:05 p.m., and the certification meeting scheduled at 3:10 p.m. The staggered start times were proposed to allow notice flexibility for each distinct meeting purpose and were adopted after a motion and an amendment to the motion.
For the May primary and nonpartisan election, staff recommended moving the board’s single Sunday advanced‑voting day off Mother’s Day. Member (unnamed) moved to change Sunday voting from May 10 to May 3 and to set pre‑certification on May 22 (with a possible continuation to May 26 if needed); the board approved the reorganization of May meeting dates.
Elections staff presented a 2024 advanced‑voting analysis using poll‑pad timestamps from elections when four advanced voting locations were open. The analysis found consistent peak turnout between about 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the lowest use during 8:30–9 a.m. and the final hour 5–6 p.m. Staff said opening earlier than 8:30 a.m. or extending beyond 6 p.m. would raise costs without evidence of substantially increased turnout based on the two elections studied. Staff suggested any change in advanced‑voting hours be planned for 2028 and include public input so poll‑worker shifts and staffing could be arranged.
Member comments ranged from endorsing a pause on immediate changes because of the heavy 2026 election workload to suggesting trial changes such as shifting hours (for example, 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.) rather than extending total staffing hours. The chair concluded staff should continue collecting turnout data through the 2026 elections and revisit the topic in 2027 ahead of planning for 2028.
Next steps: the board approved the calendar as amended; staff will implement the May and March scheduling changes and continue collecting voting‑hour data for future adjustments.
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