THE PEACH PULSE
Georgia politics, explained
From the editor
Advance voting starts this week, and one thing became very clear while we were putting this issue together: where you live in Georgia can shape what your voting options look like.
For our lead story, PeachPol analyzed advance-voting schedules across the state and compared counties with similar numbers of registered voters. What we found wasn’t a simple urban-versus-rural divide or a question of who was following the law. It was something more interesting: counties operating under the same state rules are making very different choices about how many sites to open, how long to keep them open and how to spread those opportunities across their communities.
That’s the kind of story we want PeachPol to bring you — not just what politicians are saying, but how the decisions made by government actually show up in people’s lives.
Elsewhere in this issue, we’re also digging into the arguments shaping Georgia’s politics and policy as Election Day gets closer, including a guest column from Chip Lake on what control of the Public Service Commission could mean for electricity rates.
As always, thanks for reading — and for helping us build a place for Georgia politics that goes beyond the headline.
Maya
Editorial director, PeachPol
Maya T. Prabhu is PeachPol’s editorial director and chief operations officer, leading coverage that explains the people, power and policies shaping Georgia politics.
The Lede
Where you live in Georgia can shape how much advance voting is available
Two Georgia counties with almost the same number of registered voters are taking very different approaches to advance voting this fall.
Lowndes County, with about 84,000 registered voters, is opening one advance-voting site for the Nov. 3 election.
Walton County, with about 85,000 registered voters, is opening three.
That difference is deliberate.
Lowndes County Elections Supervisor Deb Cox told PeachPol the county has chosen to concentrate advance voting in a larger location rather than spread voters across multiple sites.
The Line
“One location is easier to manage and control than multiple locations. Bigger, not more.”
The Argument
Lake | Georgia’s power bills are on the ballot
By Chip Lake for PeachPol
Most Georgians couldn't name a single member of the Public Service Commission. But on Nov. 3, those five little-known seats may shape your family's budget more than anything else on the ballot.
The PSC sets what you pay Georgia Power to keep the lights on, the air conditioning running and the refrigerator cold. Right now, Republicans hold a 3–2 majority. Two seats are on the ballot this fall. If Democrats win them, they will control how Georgia prices electricity at the moment it matters most.
Before Georgians make that trade, they should look at how it has gone in the states where Democrats already run energy policy.
As of September, the average Georgia home pays about 16.4 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity. That is below the national average of 18.3 cents.
The Catch-Up
What We’re Watching
Rick Jackson tour: Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson is traveling the state with Gov. Brian and Marty Kemp on Monday, with stops in Atlanta, Macon, Columbus, Savannah and Grovetown.
Advance voting begins: Voters can beginning heading to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 election.
Workforce stability: A House panel will meet 10 a.m. Wednesday in Fitzgerald to discuss tactics to measure education performance.
Election equipment: A joint Senate and House panel will meet 9 a.m. Thursday in the Coverdell Legislative Office Building to hear presentations from potential vendors for new election equipment.
Read more on PeachPol
PeachPol is built for readers who want more than headlines. We’re here to explain Georgia politics with context, clarity and a close eye on the people and power structures shaping the state.