Three Early Voting Locations Set for May Election in Columbus

Northside Rec Center, City Services Center, and Shirley Winston Recreation Center will host early voting ahead of the May 19 primaries and local races.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:54am

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A serene, photorealistic painting depicting a lone voting booth or ballot box set against a warm, sunlit urban backdrop, conveying a sense of civic duty and democratic process.The selection of early voting sites in Columbus aims to provide convenient options for residents across different neighborhoods ahead of the pivotal May primaries.Columbus Today

With the Georgia primaries and local elections just two weeks away on May 19, election officials in Columbus have secured three early voting locations to serve voters: the Northside Recreation Center, the City Services Center, and the Shirley Winston Recreation Center on the southside. Securing suitable early voting sites has proved challenging, but Director of Elections and Registrations Nancy Boren says the board is ready to test all 450 voting machines ahead of election day.

Why it matters

Early voting access is a key issue in elections, and the selection of these three locations aims to provide convenient options for voters across different neighborhoods in Columbus ahead of the pivotal May primaries for state and local offices.

The details

After considering a north Columbus shopping area that ultimately fell through, the elections board settled on the Northside Recreation Center, the City Services Center, and the Shirley Winston Recreation Center as the three early voting sites for the upcoming May 19 election. Voters will use the same ballot marking devices and tabulators as on election day, with the board testing all 450 machines to ensure an 'errorless count'.

  • The May 19 election is just two weeks away.
  • Early voting will take place in the lead-up to the May 19 election.

The players

Nancy Boren

Director of Elections and Registrations for Columbus, Georgia, overseeing the selection of early voting sites and preparation of voting equipment for the upcoming election.

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What they’re saying

“'Finding a location on the northside has been difficult, but we have located the North Columbus Recreation Center. We will be here at the City Services Center, and we will have a location at Shirley Winston Recreation Center on the southside.'”

— Nancy Boren, Director of Elections and Registrations

What’s next

The elections board is looking at adding up to two additional early voting periods for the November election, a decision that will be made after the May 19 primary.

The takeaway

Ensuring accessible early voting options is crucial for voter participation, and the selection of these three locations in different neighborhoods of Columbus aims to serve the community ahead of the pivotal May primaries for state and local offices.