Subheadline: Election officials are considering temporary polling sites, changes to advance-voting schedules and new absentee-ballot drop boxes as Cobb County prepares for the Nov. 3 general election.
Cobb County election officials are considering a series of changes that could affect where and how some residents vote in the November general election.
The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration was scheduled to take up the proposals Sept. 14, including temporary polling locations in the Dobbins and Elizabeth areas, changes to the advance-voting schedule and updated locations for absentee-ballot drop boxes. Officials are also considering whether to use a third-party service to mail absentee ballots instead of relying exclusively on the U.S. Postal Service.
Why Cobb County is considering changes
The proposals come as election officials prepare for one of the most important voting periods of the year.
Cobb County is one of Georgia’s largest counties and plays a significant role in statewide elections. The county’s population growth and changing demographics have also made its elections closely watched in statewide contests.
Officials are looking at whether voting locations and schedules can better accommodate voters while ensuring that the county has enough facilities and resources to conduct the election.
The discussion also follows polling-place changes earlier in 2026. Cobb County previously moved several Election Day precincts because of facility availability and other considerations.
Temporary polling places could change where some residents vote
One item before the elections board involves temporary polling locations in the Dobbins and Elizabeth areas.
Any change to an Election Day polling location can be important for voters who are accustomed to going to the same site every election. Election officials have previously urged residents to verify their assigned location before heading to the polls, particularly after precinct changes.
Cobb County maintains an online tool where voters can check their polling location and other election information.
The county’s official Election Day page currently lists Nov. 3, 2026, as the date of the general and special election and directs voters to the Georgia My Voter Page to verify their individual polling location.
Early voting could also see changes
The elections board is also considering an amended schedule for advance in-person voting.
Under the county’s currently posted schedule, advance voting for the Nov. 3 election is set to run on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., beginning Oct. 13, with additional Saturday and Sunday voting dates.
The county currently lists 13 advance-voting locations spread across different areas, including the North Cobb Senior Center, South Cobb Community Center, East Cobb Government Service Center, Boots Ward Recreation Center and the Cobb County Elections main office.
The board’s consideration of an amended schedule means voters should watch for any changes before making plans to vote early.
Absentee drop boxes are part of the discussion
Election officials are also considering updated locations for absentee-ballot drop boxes.
Drop boxes provide another way for voters who receive absentee ballots to return them without relying on regular mail. Cobb County’s currently posted advance-voting information identifies drop-box locations in several parts of the county, including North Cobb, South Cobb, East Cobb, West Cobb, Mableton and Powder Springs.
The proposed changes could alter where some voters return their absentee ballots, making it important for voters to check the county’s latest information before submitting a ballot.
County considers third-party absentee-ballot mailing
Another proposal under discussion involves using a third-party service to mail absentee ballots.
The idea would provide an alternative to the U.S. Postal Service for sending absentee ballots to voters. The discussion comes amid broader national attention on mail voting and the Postal Service ahead of the midterm elections.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 14 separately blocked the Trump administration from implementing new federal USPS requirements for mail-in ballots before the midterms, leaving states and local election officials to continue using their existing procedures.
For Cobb County, the third-party proposal is a local administrative question rather than a change mandated by the Supreme Court.
What voters should do before November
The safest approach for Cobb County voters is to verify their information before Election Day rather than assume their previous polling location will remain the same.
The county recommends using the Georgia My Voter Page to check a voter’s assigned polling location, sample ballot and other election information.
For the November general election, Cobb County lists Oct. 5 as the voter-registration deadline. The county’s absentee-ballot request period runs from Aug. 17 through Oct. 23.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls scheduled to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for voters casting ballots at their assigned locations.
A changing election landscape
The potential changes come as Cobb County continues to adjust its election infrastructure to accommodate voters and available facilities.
Earlier this year, the county announced numerous polling-place changes for the primary and future elections, with officials saying the changes were intended to better align locations with where voters live and make Election Day voting more convenient.
The county has also invited residents to suggest potential future polling locations.
With November approaching, election officials now face the task of finalizing locations, schedules and absentee-ballot logistics while giving voters enough notice to make their voting plans.
Bottom Line
Cobb County voters could see changes to some polling locations, early-voting schedules and absentee-ballot drop-box locations before the Nov. 3 general election.
The proposals are still part of the county’s election-planning process, so voters should not assume that a location or schedule under consideration has become final.
The county’s official election website and the Georgia My Voter Page remain the best places for voters to verify their individual polling location, early-voting options and absentee-ballot information as November approaches.
