Georgia's 2026 Ballot Measures — Explained Like You're 15

I reviewed the Cherokee County ballot measures page you shared.

On November 3, 2026, voters will be asked to make decisions about four issues: three statewide constitutional amendments and one Cherokee County school-tax question.

Think of these as four questions where the government is asking voters, "Should we change the rules?"

I'll explain what each one means, what happens if YES or NO wins, and the arguments on both sides — without the political mumbo jumbo.

1. Amendment 1 — Bigger tax breaks for farmland

Statewide

The simple explanation: Georgia gives qualifying farmers and timberland owners a special property-tax deal to help keep land used for farming, forestry, or conservation.

Currently, one owner can enroll up to 2,000 acres under this conservation-use tax arrangement.

The proposal would double that limit to 4,000 acres.

Imagine this: You own a farm with 3,000 acres. Right now, only 2,000 acres can qualify under this particular program. If the amendment passes, all 3,000 acres could potentially qualify, assuming the land meets the other requirements.

YES: Allow up to 4,000 acres to qualify.

NO: Keep the existing 2,000-acre limit.

Why someone might support it: Lower property taxes could help preserve large working farms and forests instead of encouraging owners to sell or develop them.

Why someone might oppose it: Larger landowners could receive more tax benefits, potentially shifting the tax burden toward other property owners or reducing local government revenue.

The important question: Should Georgia expand a tax benefit that helps preserve farmland, even when larger landowners may benefit most?

2. Amendment 2 — Take political party labels off probate judge elections

Statewide

The simple explanation: Some judges currently run for office with political party labels, like Republican or Democrat.

This amendment would require every Georgia probate judge to run in a nonpartisan election, meaning their political party wouldn't appear next to their name on the ballot.

Probate judges deal with matters such as wills, estates, guardianships, and certain other legal responsibilities.

Imagine this: You're voting for a referee in a football game. Instead of telling you which team the referee supports, the ballot simply gives you the referee's name.

YES: Remove party labels from probate judge elections statewide.

NO: Keep the existing system, which allows partisan probate judge elections.

Why someone might support it: Judges are supposed to apply the law impartially. Removing party labels could encourage voters to focus on experience and qualifications.

Why someone might oppose it: Party labels give voters information about a candidate's political background. Without those labels, some voters might find it harder to distinguish candidates.

The important question: When electing a judge, is it more useful to know the candidate's political party or to have an election without party labels?

3. Amendment 3 — A special savings account for 911

Statewide

The simple explanation: Georgia wants the authority to create a special fund for emergency 911 systems.

The money placed in this fund would be restricted to operating, maintaining, and improving 911 services. Unspent money would remain in the fund for future years.

Imagine this: Your school collects money specifically to replace old fire alarms.

Instead of putting that money into the school's general account, it goes into a separate account that can only pay for emergency safety systems.

That's roughly how this amendment would work.

YES: Allow Georgia lawmakers to establish a constitutionally protected 911 fund.

NO: Do not grant this new constitutional authority.

Why someone might support it: Emergency communication systems need dependable funding for equipment, software, and upgrades. Dedicated funds can make long-term planning easier.

Why someone might oppose it: Setting money aside for one purpose reduces lawmakers' flexibility to use that money for other needs. The amendment also leaves important funding details to future legislation.

Important detail: This amendment does not itself establish a new tax. It authorizes lawmakers to dedicate certain revenues to the fund.

The important question: Should emergency 911 funding be protected for that specific purpose, even if it reduces budget flexibility?

4. Cherokee County — Limit how fast your home's taxable value rises for school taxes

Cherokee County School District voters

This one deserves extra attention because it directly affects qualifying homeowners in Cherokee County.

The simple explanation: When your house becomes more valuable, your property taxes can increase even if you haven't sold your house or earned any more money.

This proposal would provide a special exemption so that, for Cherokee County school operating taxes, the taxable value of a qualifying primary residence generally couldn't rise more than 4% per year from its adjusted base value.

The exemption would run from 2027 through 2031.

Here's an example

Imagine your home's assessed value for school taxes starts at $200,000, and its market-related assessed value rises 10% the following year.

Without this exemption

$220,000

Assessed value after a 10% increase

With the proposed exemption

$208,000

Maximum adjusted base after 4%

Illustrative example assuming the maximum 4% adjustment, unchanged eligibility, and no other adjustments.

$12,000

of assessed value would be exempt from the covered school operating taxes in this example.

This doesn't mean your entire property-tax bill is capped at a 4% increase. County taxes, city taxes, and school bond taxes are not covered by this particular exemption.

YES: Approve the new homestead exemption through 2031.

NO: Reject this new exemption, leaving other applicable property-tax rules in place.

Why someone might support it: It can make school property taxes more predictable for homeowners, particularly those living in neighborhoods where home values are rising quickly.

Why someone might oppose it: Limiting growth in the taxable value of existing homes could reduce school-tax revenue compared with what otherwise would be collected. It may also cause different tax treatment for otherwise similar properties.

The important question: Should qualifying homeowners receive additional protection from rising school property taxes, even if that limits the school district's potential tax revenue?

The actual law is Georgia Senate Bill 407.

All four measures at a glance

Question	YES means	NO means
1. Farmland	Expand qualifying acreage to 4,000	Keep 2,000
2. Probate judges	Remove party labels	Keep current rules
3. 911 funding	Permit a protected 911 fund	Don't add that authority
4. Cherokee school taxes	Approve the new homestead exemption	Reject the exemption