Early Voting Underway Ahead of May 19 Primary in Gilmer County, Georgia

ELLIJAY, Ga. — Voters in Gilmer County, Georgia are preparing to head to the polls for the May 19, 2026 primary election, with early voting already underway for several key local races, including county commission, school board, and judicial seats.

County Commission races:

The Republican primary for the Gilmer County Commission District 2 seat features three candidates:

• Anthony Arbucci
• Gary Engel
• Danny R. Hall

Voters will also decide the Republican nominee for Gilmer County Board of Commissioners Chairman, with two candidates on the ballot:

• Charlie Paris
• Douglas Andrew Rink

School board elections:

Two nonpartisan races are on the ballot for the Gilmer County Schools Board of Education:

• Post 4: Monica Michele Penland
• Post 5: Jacob Luke Callihan

School board races in Georgia are nonpartisan, meaning candidates do not run under a party label.

Judicial races:

Voters will also weigh in on judicial seats within the Ninth Superior Court District Appalachian Circuit. Both races are nonpartisan:

• Barbara Alison Sosebee is seeking election to her current seat
• Mary Elizabeth Priest is also seeking election to her seat

Election details:

The primary election is scheduled for May 19, with early voting currently available for residents who wish to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.

Local election officials encourage voters to review their ballots in advance and take advantage of early voting opportunities to avoid potential delays on Election Day.