Georgia Will Vote on Nonpartisan Probate Judge Elections
Georgia voters will decide on November 3, 2026, whether to remove political party affiliation from probate judge races.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Elections
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Should probate judge elections be nonpartisan to ensure rulings are based only on law?
On November 3, 2026, Georgia voters will head to the polls to decide on a ballot amendment that would make probate judge elections nonpartisan. The measure aims to ensure judicial decisions remain grounded in law rather than political affiliation.
Why it matters
Proponents of the amendment argue that removing partisan labels from the ballot will help maintain the neutrality of probate courts. This shift aligns probate judge elections with the status of other state judicial positions, including the Supreme Court and Superior Courts.
The Georgia General Assembly approved the ballot measure with a 147-20 House vote and a 46-0 Senate vote. This amendment reflects the support of 70 state leaders.
The players
Roy E. Barnes
Roy E. Barnes is a former Governor of Georgia who is among the group of 70 leaders supporting the probate election amendment.
Nathan Deal
Nathan Deal is a former Governor of Georgia who has expressed support for the measure to remove partisanship from probate races.
Kelly Girtz
Kelly Girtz is the Mayor of Athens-Clarke who endorsed the proposed amendment to the state constitution.
Dexter Fisher
Dexter Fisher is the Mayor-elect of Athens-Clarke who joined the list of officials endorsing the nonpartisan judicial ballot measure.
Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia
The Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia is the professional body that identified 70 leaders in favor of the upcoming election amendment.
The details
The proposal seeks to bring probate judge elections in line with the current nonpartisan process used for Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Court, and state court judges. Supporters of the move include a group of 70 leaders, such as Roy E. Barnes, Nathan Deal, Casey Cagle, Michael Thurmond, George Darden, Mayor Kelly Girtz, and Mayor-elect Dexter Fisher.
Timeline
The ballot amendment vote is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Political Context
The proposal modifies the Georgia Constitution's judicial election requirements to remove partisan labels from the ballot for the probate bench. This change would formally extend the existing nonpartisan status currently enjoyed by Georgia's Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Superior Courts.
If passed, the amendment will eliminate party identification on the ballot for probate judge races in the 2026 election and beyond. Voters will see these judicial candidates listed without partisan labels, changing how citizens evaluate and select their local judges.
The takeaway
The move reflects a broader trend of aligning local judicial selection processes with the standards already established for higher state courts. Residents should prepare to evaluate judicial candidates based on professional merit rather than party affiliation.
What happens next
Voters will decide on this ballot amendment during the general election held on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about upcoming contests and measures on the Georgia Elections page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Athens Banner-Herald.
Live Poll
Should probate judge elections be nonpartisan to ensure rulings are based only on law?
