Over 300 election officials from across the state of Georgia gathered at the Savannah Convention Center this summer for a high-level meeting focused on improving the voting process ahead of the 2026 elections.
The event was the annual conference of the Georgia Association of Voter Registration & Election Officials. Representatives from all 159 counties attended, where discussion topics ranged from new voting legislation to voter registration efforts and polling location logistics.
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One of the most notable proposals on the table includes the removal of barcodes from ballots – an effort aimed at increasing voter confidence and transparency.
“People ought to look at the way we do things. They really should,” said John Farver of the State Election Board. “We’re not like some of these states out west that take three weeks to count their ballots.”
The gathering served as a forum for exchanging ideas on how to streamline operations, improve voter access, and ensure that polling sites are maximized for efficiency. Officials emphasized that while some technical changes may be ahead, the foundation of Georgia’s election system remains strong.
Many attendees pointed to the success of the previous election cycle as proof that the state is on the right path.
Looking ahead, officials are preparing for key races on the 2026 ballot, including the closely watched governor’s race, set for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. With high voter turnout anticipated, efforts to register new voters and fine-tune election procedures are underway.
Georgia continues to position itself as a model for election preparedness, with state officials showing a clear commitment to both innovation and integrity in the democratic process.
The following board members and staff involved with the Union County Voting Center completed their required 12 hours of certification during the conference: Libby Stevens, Linda Hill, Jim Fitzgerald, Riccardo Rivas, Krystal Berry, Nora Milam, Martha Davenport, Janet Chapman and Tomi McCullers.
Union County Voter Registration Director Krystal Berry said last month that the Registrar’s Office was still in the process of completing its state-mandated voter-roll cleanup.
She detailed that 357 local voters from the “No-Contact List” – that is, voters who have not had any contact with the office in five years – had been sent letters in July notifying them that they had been put on a 40-day clock to respond lest they be moved to the “inactive voter list.”
Importantly, inactive voters are still eligible to vote if they come into the office, at which point they will be moved back to the active list.
However, another 822 Union County voters on the “No General Election List” were also sent a letter in accordance with state law.
“They were already listed as inactive and had not voted in the last two general election cycles,” Berry said. “They were also put on a 40-day clock, and 806 voters were cancelled due to no response.”
Voters can check their registration status by visiting the “My Voter Page” at mvp.sos.ga.gov.
