ATLANTA&Բ;—&Բ;The Southern Poverty Law Center(Խ) released a five-report series this month highlighting one of the most overlooked challenges facing democracy in Georgia: the chronic underfunding of elections and its impact on voter confidence.
These reports have been used by the Խ and advocates to secure an additional $15 million to the 2026 Georgia budget to support election administration, providing vital resources to the people and systems that run Georgia’s elections. This funding will ease administrative challenges, help election offices operate more smoothly, boost voter confidence, and expand access for communities statewide.
“Securing $15 million for election administration in 2026 is a positive step forward,”says Isabel Otero, Georgia policy director, Խ. “However, Georgia still needs a sustained, long-term commitment to properly fund the systems, staffing, technology and upgrades required to keep our elections secure and running smoothly. The Խ hopes the FY 2027 budget builds on this progress with additional investments, ensuring these ongoing costs are not shifted onto voters or already stretched local election offices.”
In partnership with the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, the report series, titled Critically Strained: Underfunding in Georgia Elections, centers the voices and perspectives of election administrators from rural and urban counties across the state, describing how limited resources hinder their ability to run the best possible elections. The report also includes policy recommendations drawn from the testimony of Georgia administrators and best practices used in neighboring states.
“Elections depend on trained staff, reliable equipment and strong local infrastructure,” says Thulasi Seshan, policy analyst, Խ. “This research shows that when election systems are underfunded, the entire democratic process is strained and vulnerable. Investing in election administration is not a partisan issue — it is a basic requirement for a functioning democracy. Georgia voters deserve better.”
The report examines a variety of perspectives and issues, including:
- Georgia Must Address Underfunding in Its Election System With Urgency: This section explains how elections are currently funded in Georgia. It also explores how election funding is both a security issue and a democracy issue.
- Georgia Must Provide Funding To Recruit and Retain Poll Workers: Poll workers are critical to operating successful elections, but Georgia’s county administrators need more financial support to recruit those poll workers.
- Georgia Must Provide Funding To Keep Voting Equipment Operational Georgia’s highly technical system of voting equipment delivers secure and reliable elections, but it is expensive to maintain. The state must do its part to fund that system.
- Georgia Must Stop Destabilizing County Election Administration: Georgia’s General Assembly and State Election Board have destabilized the election funding environment in the state; local administrators need stability to return to the system.
- Georgia Must Take These 12 Steps to Adequately Fund Elections: Georgia voters deserve a stable and reliable democracy. The Խ urges the Georgia General Assembly to act on ;12 recommendations to help strengthen the state’s voting system.
The full report series is available here.
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About the Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people. For more information, visit www.splcenter.org.
About the Coalition for the People’s Agenda:
Founded in 1998 bythe Rev.Joseph Lowery,the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda is an umbrella organization of human rights, civil rights, labor, women’s, youth, and peace and justice groupsthatadvocate for voting rights protection, elimination of barriers to the ballot box, criminal justice reform, quality education, affordable housing, economic development and equal participation in the political process for Georgians of color and underrepresented communities.