Municipal elections
The latest news on North Fulton cities' efforts to run their own local elections.
"This fall, Alpharetta has a mayor and three seats on the City Council up for election. My sense is that one or more of these incumbents fear a smear is near," writes Pat Fox.
Where are we now?
In August 2021, Milton voters began petitioning their City Council to exit Fulton County elections. It sparked a years-long campaign that spread to other North Fulton cities. Milton is set to operate ballots on their own. Alpharetta, Roswell and Johns Creek have now indicated they will stick with the county – at least for the 2023 election season.
Appen Media will continue its coverage of municipal elections in North Fulton County. Send us your thoughts, questions and story ideas.
Each city
Since the push began for city-run municipal elections, Johns Creek and Roswell officials have indicated they will stick with the county. Alpharetta is up in the air. Here's the latest with each city.
Johns Creek City Council decided self-run elections would be too expensive after receiving an estimated $1 million price tag, or $16 per voter – more than double the cost of sticking with Fulton County. Read moreJohns Creek will not run its own municipal elections
Roswell and Johns Creek will stick with Fulton County elections this November and are now setting their sights on self-run operations in 2025. Alpharetta is the last city still in the boat that may join Milton. Read moreRoswell joins Johns Creek in scrapping municipal election bid
At Monday's Milton City Council meeting, officials heard final plans for the District at Mayfield, a roughly 18-acre area in Crabapple. They also talked polling places and a superintendent for this year's municipal elections. Read moreMilton presents next steps for Mayfield District, municipal elections
The Alpharetta City Council has decided to keep the 2023 municipal elections with Fulton County, ending a months-long push to count their own ballots. Roswell and Johns Creek have also sided with the county, leaving Milton alone. Read moreAlpharetta sticks with Fulton County for November elections
How did we get here?
In 2021 residents began pressing Milton officials to break from the county's operation of municipal elections. Appen Media has covered the story ever since.
Milton Elections Panel
A six-person panel met for over a year in Milton, determining how the city would run its own municipal elections.
The committee tasked with determining whether it’s feasible that Milton conduct its own elections, presented its findings to the City Council Dec. 5 and included an eye-opening comprehensive cost analysis.
Mark Amick, one of six members on Milton's Election Feasibility Committee, has been subpoenaed by a grand jury in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ probe into the aftermath of the 2020 election.
A timeline of the committee
The committee tasked with determining whether it’s feasible that Milton conduct its own elections, presented its findings to the City Council Dec. 5 and included an eye-opening comprehensive cost analysis.
The Municipal Election Feasibility Committee wrapped up at its last meeting Dec. 1. With Fulton County’s recent suggestion for cities to conduct their own elections, self-sufficiency has become a more important objective for area governments.
The Milton Municipal Election Feasibility Committee met last week, finalizing cost proposals for the city to run its own elections. Fulton County is now suggesting other cities do the same in 2023.
Sitting eye-level with two dozen residents, members of Milton’s Municipal Election Feasibility Committee settled a handful of key issues at their Sept. 15 meeting.
Milton’s Municipal Election Feasibility Committee has itself come under scrutiny, with residents wondering about the panel's makeup and origin. Documents now show the group met at least 5 times before it was officially assembled.
The Milton Election Feasibility Committee is a six-person group exploring the city's option to run its own elections. Residents spoke at the Aug. 22 meeting, calling for a system of checks and balances for the panel.
Milton’s Election Feasibility Committee rolled up its sleeves Aug. 3 and took a deep dive into the practicalities of the city conducting its own municipal elections.
Mark Amick, one of six members on Milton's Election Feasibility Committee, has been subpoenaed by a grand jury in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ probe into the aftermath of the 2020 election.
Seeking greater oversight and cost savings, Milton’s new Municipal Election Feasibility Committee held its inaugural meeting June 15 to study whether the city should run its own municipal elections.
The Milton City Council voted unanimously April 18 to adopt a resolution creating an election feasibility committee.
Appen Media Publisher Hans Appen warns the public against accepting proposed election reforms at face value.
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Latest coverage
"This fall, Alpharetta has a mayor and three seats on the City Council up for election. My sense is that one or more of these incumbents fear a smear is near," writes Pat Fox. Read moreOpinion: Alpharetta is considering dangerous changes to ethics policy
Public comments flooded Milton City Council in the wake of a coalition letter from Stacey Abrams' Fair Fight Action group, alleging disenfranchisement of Black and brown voters. Read moreStacey Abrams' Fair Fight accuses Milton of suppressing minority voters
The Alpharetta City Council is considering updating an ordinance that could shield candidates who are running for reelection from ethics complaints ahead of the municipal election this fall. Read moreAlpharetta ethics changes would shield candidates, oust residents from board
Milton's two polling places will be on the city's North and West sides. Officials cited turnout as a deciding factor, but Appen Media found that Southeast voters are active – and makeup the majority of the city's Democratic ballots. Read moreData: Milton's Democratic voters face longest polling commute
The Milton City Council decided to have two polling places for this year's municipal elections. Officials also indicated the city will count those ballots by hand. Read moreMilton opts for two Election Day polling places, will likely hand-count ballots
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger focused on election security and streamlining the voting process at a legislative update breakfast sponsored by the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce April 17. Read moreSecretary of State talks election security at Johns Creek chamber event
At the regular meeting April 17 the Alpharetta City Council unanimously approved an agreement to allow Fulton County to conduct municipal elections this November. The price tag remains $379,408. Read moreAlpharetta seals deal for Fulton County elections
Now that Milton City Council has voted to run its own elections, staff are working to put the operation together. So far they have made progress. Still, the road to November is long and the to-do list is not. Read moreMilton officials begin shaping municipal elections plan
The Roswell City Council voted to support the Roswell Housing Authority with $2 million toward redeveloping the Pelfrey Pines public housing property at 199 Grove Way. Read moreRoswell pledges $2 million for Grove Way housing development
The Alpharetta City Council has decided to keep the 2023 municipal elections with Fulton County, ending a months-long push to count their own ballots. Roswell and Johns Creek have also sided with the county, leaving Milton alone. Read moreAlpharetta sticks with Fulton County for November elections
Alpharetta's election plans remain up in the air, though Councilmen Hipes, Binder and Merkel said they'd prefer to stick with Fulton County this year. The city also OK'd a Thompson Street development amid concerns from a nearby HOA. Read moreAlpharetta still undecided on 2023 municipal elections
At Monday's Milton City Council meeting, officials heard final plans for the District at Mayfield, a roughly 18-acre area in Crabapple. They also talked polling places and a superintendent for this year's municipal elections. Read moreMilton presents next steps for Mayfield District, municipal elections
Alpharetta could pay between $145,000 and $300,000 to run its own elections according to March 15 estimates. The City Council will gather Monday night to weigh their options for a municipal operation. Read moreAlpharetta to talk municipal elections at Monday's work session
Roswell and Johns Creek will stick with Fulton County elections this November and are now setting their sights on self-run operations in 2025. Alpharetta is the last city still in the boat that may join Milton. Read moreRoswell joins Johns Creek in scrapping municipal election bid
A Roswell City Council workshop that had been cancelled and then rescheduled with a blank agenda turned into a three-hour Q&A-style workshop with local reporters. Read moreCryptic Roswell meeting turns into press briefing
The Alpharetta City Council has amended the Unified Development Code to allow a neighborhood not represented by a homeowners association to set design and building standards if a majority of property owners approve. Read moreAlpharetta strengthens non-HOA neighborhoods
Johns Creek City Council decided self-run elections would be too expensive after receiving an estimated $1 million price tag, or $16 per voter – more than double the cost of sticking with Fulton County. Read moreJohns Creek will not run its own municipal elections
Impact Johns Creek President Nicole Washington and President-elect Devon Dabney led an event to discuss local issues, including the city’s study into running its own municipal elections this fall. Read moreImpact Johns Creek talks municipal elections
The Alpharetta City Council unanimously approved a funding request of $199,778 to implement a local roads safety action plan to increase pedestrian and driver safety. Read moreAlpharetta adopts road safety plan, hears election cost estimates
Milton Mayor Peyton Jamison covered a lot of ground in his “State of the City” speech Feb. 15 at City Hall. Read moreMayor pumps ‘Team Milton’ during first State of the City address
The North Fulton Municipal Association includes Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Roswell and Mountain Park. Members met at Avalon Feb. 9, largely discussing city-run municipal elections. Read moreNorth Fulton mayors meet to discuss municipal elections
Fulton County has revised its estimated charge to cities for operating municipal elections this fall, complicating a move by some cities to consider running their own ballots. Read moreFulton County offers to match 2021 municipal election costs
Appen Media Publisher Hans Appen warns the public against accepting proposed election reforms at face value. Read moreOpinion: Cities may cede election decisions to six people
The Sandy Springs City Council and key staff met for more than eight hours Jan. 28 for the council’s annual planning retreat, drilling down on priorities, goals and initiatives to be completed in 2023. Read moreSandy Springs leaders ‘optimistic’ after planning retreat
“I talked to the mayor of Milton this evening, and if the process is not worked out to the satisfaction of any of the cities, the process could be aborted,” said Roswell Mayor Kurt Wilson at a special elections meeting Jan. 30. Read moreRoswell advances plan to break from Fulton County elections
Johns Creek officials traveled to Greenville, S.C. this weekend to workshop priorities for the upcoming year. Appen Media Reporter Amber Perry followed along. Here's her first story from the road. Read moreJohns Creek officials strategize at Greenville retreat
The Alpharetta City Council voted unanimously Jan. 23 to rezone about 1 acre on Thompson Street to allow for five condominiums. It's the latest of 25 residential approvals since the Downtown Master Plan Update passed in 2015. Read moreAlpharetta City Council approves Thompson Street condo project
The Roswell City Council is considering holding their own municipal elections in the wake of a Dec. 19 vote by Milton elected officials to do the same. They plan to hold a special called meeting on Jan. 30 to continue the talks. Read moreRoswell pushes to run its own municipal elections
The Roswell City Council will hold a special called meeting at 7:00 p.m. tonight to discuss municipal elections. Alpharetta, Johns Creek and Roswell are taking steps towards running their own ballots following Milton's move last month. Read moreRoswell will talk elections tonight at special public meeting
After Milton moved to run its own elections, sister cities are following quickly in its wake. Alpharetta, Roswell and Johns Creek officials have all met this week in a movement that could see one superintendent running all the ballots. Read moreNorth Fulton cities rush to run their own elections
The City of Milton is set to conduct its own 2023 municipal elections, and it likely will save more than $250,000 doing it. That's after more than a year of committee meetings and an official vote at the Dec. 19 City Council meeting. Read moreMilton will run its own elections in 2023
The committee tasked with determining whether it’s feasible that Milton conduct its own elections, presented its findings to the City Council Dec. 5 and included an eye-opening comprehensive cost analysis. Read moreMilton elections panel presents findings, including polling costs
The Municipal Election Feasibility Committee wrapped up at its last meeting Dec. 1. With Fulton County’s recent suggestion for cities to conduct their own elections, self-sufficiency has become a more important objective for area governments. Read moreMilton elections committee prepares final presentation
The Milton Municipal Election Feasibility Committee met last week, finalizing cost proposals for the city to run its own elections. Fulton County is now suggesting other cities do the same in 2023. Read moreMilton opens door for municipal election operations
Sitting eye-level with two dozen residents, members of Milton’s Municipal Election Feasibility Committee settled a handful of key issues at their Sept. 15 meeting. Read moreMilton elections panel makes progress
Milton’s Municipal Election Feasibility Committee has itself come under scrutiny, with residents wondering about the panel's makeup and origin. Documents now show the group met at least 5 times before it was officially assembled. Read moreRecords draw more questions about Milton election committee
The Milton Election Feasibility Committee is a six-person group exploring the city's option to run its own elections. Residents spoke at the Aug. 22 meeting, calling for a system of checks and balances for the panel. Read moreMilton residents question partisanship of elections committee
Milton’s Election Feasibility Committee rolled up its sleeves Aug. 3 and took a deep dive into the practicalities of the city conducting its own municipal elections. Read moreMilton looks to model city for election guidance
Mark Amick, one of six members on Milton's Election Feasibility Committee, has been subpoenaed by a grand jury in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ probe into the aftermath of the 2020 election. Read moreMilton election committee member subpoenaed in 2020 vote probe
Seeking greater oversight and cost savings, Milton’s new Municipal Election Feasibility Committee held its inaugural meeting June 15 to study whether the city should run its own municipal elections. Read moreMilton Election Feasibility Committee sets ground rules