NEWS

Editorial by Bert Brantley, Savannah Area Chamber President and CEO

I know it seems we’re in a perpetual election cycle these days—as soon as one election ends, another is right behind it.

So here we are, another week or so before Election Day, and campaigns are asking for our votes again. This time, we have statewide candidates on the ballot for U.S. Senate, governor, and other state constitutional offices, as well as an open seat for the U.S. House in the 1st Congressional District and a few ballot questions.

As of this writing, Chatham County is running slightly ahead of its 2022 turnout pace, which makes sense given the population growth we’ve seen over the past four years. Many counties in the state are behind their 2022 pace.

I encourage our business community to lead the way by making a plan to vote and encouraging co-workers, friends, and family to do the same during early voting or on Election Day, Nov. 3.

I am convinced that those who vote are more likely to research candidates, learn about government policies, and pay closer attention to what our elected officials are doing. The more our business community shows up, the more likely our elected officials will be to listen to our concerns.

As I’m sure you know, the Savannah Area Chamber is a nonpartisan organization that does not endorse candidates. But we do want you to be informed and engaged, and to know who—and what—you are voting for when you get to the ballot box.

Our friends at the Georgia Chamber have provided a guide to the constitutional amendment questions at the end of the ballot. Please refer to this ballot guide to understand what all that legal gobbledygook means in the ballot questions.

And, as always, please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions about the 2026 election. While we can’t predict the future, we can tell you where it will be decided: at your polling place.