# 2026 Georgia Primary Election: Criminal Justice & Prison Reform Voter Guide > 2026 Voter Education Guide Georgia's 2026 Primary Election& Prison Reform Where do the candidates stand on Georgia's prison crisis? This nonpartisan guide documents every statewide candidate's pos… **Published**: 2026-03-14 **Source**: https://gps.press/2026-primary-election/ **Author**: Admin --- 2026 Voter Education Guide # Georgia's 2026 Primary Election & Prison Reform Where do the candidates stand on Georgia's prison crisis? This nonpartisan guide documents every statewide candidate's position — or silence — on criminal justice reform. Primary Election: May 19, 2026 ## The Crisis These Leaders Will Inherit 100+ Homicides in 2024 $1.8B GDC Annual Budget <5% Parole Rate for Lifers 50%+ CO Vacancy Rate In October 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice found that conditions in Georgia's prisons violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homicides surged from 8 in 2018 to over 100 in 2024. The state spent $700 million more on corrections between FY2022 and FY2026 — and every outcome got worse. The next governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general will decide whether Georgia addresses this crisis or ignores it. ## Why These Races Matter for Prison Reform Governor ### Sets the Agenda Appoints all five members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Oversees the $1.8 billion GDC budget. Sets the tone for criminal justice policy statewide. 15 candidates running. Lieutenant Governor ### Controls Legislation Presides over the Georgia Senate. Controls committee assignments and which bills reach the floor — including SB 25 (Parole Transparency Act) and sentencing reform. 13+ candidates running. Attorney General ### Negotiates with DOJ Georgia's chief law enforcement officer. Directs state criminal litigation. Would negotiate any consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice on prison conditions. 4 candidates running. ## Explore the Races Click a race below for detailed candidate profiles, position breakdowns, and accountability matrices. [🏛 ### Governor 8 Republicans · 7 Democrats · 1 Libertarian View All Candidates →](/2026-primary-governor/) [⚖ ### Lt. Governor & Attorney General Lt. Gov: 7+ R · 1+ D | AG: 2 R · 2 D View All Candidates →](/2026-primary-lt-gov-ag/) [🏛 ### State Senate Scorecard 56 seats · 9 open · 26 contested primaries · 30 unopposed Reform-aligned: 10 contested · 3 open Non-reform: 16 contested · 6 open View Voting Records →](/2026-primary-senate/) [🏠 ### State House Scorecard 180 seats · 18 open · 45 contested primaries · 135 unopposed Reform-aligned: 21 contested · 10 open Non-reform: 24 contested · 8 open View Voting Records →](/2026-primary-house/) ## 7 Key Findings - **Only 3 of 30+ statewide candidates have detailed prison reform positions:** Jake Olinger (R-Governor), Josh McLaurin (D-Lt. Governor), and Tanya Miller (D-Attorney General). - **The 4 leading Republican gubernatorial candidates** — Burt Jones, Rick Jackson, Chris Carr, and Brad Raffensperger — have collectively offered **zero positions** on prison conditions, parole reform, GDC oversight, or the DOJ findings. - **The Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner** (Keisha Lance Bottoms) has relevant experience but has **not prioritized prison reform** in her 2026 campaign. - **The Lt. Governor's race presents the starkest contrast:** Josh McLaurin (D) has the most extensive reform record of any statewide candidate. Republican frontrunners have either authored punitive legislation or offered no positions. - **The AG race is critically underexamined.** The next Attorney General negotiates any DOJ consent decree on prison conditions. Only Tanya Miller has addressed this. - **The Governor appoints the entire Parole Board.** Only Jake Olinger has committed to appointing members who will increase parole grant rates from the current 4.5% for lifers. - **Rick Jackson's late entry reshuffled the race but not the policy landscape** — no prison positions despite leading a $3 billion+ healthcare company. ## Questions Every Candidate Should Answer GPS has submitted these questions to every qualified statewide candidate. This guide will be updated as responses are received. 1. The DOJ found Georgia's prisons violate the Eighth Amendment. Do you agree? What will you do about it? 2. Georgia spent $700 million more on corrections between FY2022 and FY2026. Every outcome got worse. What would you do differently? 3. Will you appoint Parole Board members who will increase parole grant rates from the current 4.5% for lifers? 4. Do you support independent oversight of GDC, including an inspector general with unannounced inspections? 5. Georgia's correctional officer vacancy rate exceeds 50%, with 82.7% first-year turnover. How will you address this? 6. Do you support SB 25 (Parole Transparency Act)? Do you support presumptive parole for elderly prisoners (55+)? 7. What is your position on Truth in Sentencing reform, mandatory minimums, and earned time credits? 8. As governor, would you pursue a consent decree with the DOJ or resist federal oversight? ## Legislation GPS Is Tracking GPS tracks how every Georgia legislator votes on bills that affect incarcerated people and their families. These votes determine each legislator's [GPS Accountability Score](/scorecard/). ### 2025–2026 Session [SB 79 OPPOSE Fentanyl Mandatory Minimums](/scorecard/bills/sb-79-fentanyl-eradication-and-removal-act-fentanyl-mandatory-minimums/) [SB 185 OPPOSE Transgender Prisoner Healthcare Ban](/scorecard/bills/sb-185-inmate-gender-treatment-ban-transgender-prisoner-healthcare/) [SB 39 OPPOSE Gender Care State Funding Ban](/scorecard/bills/sb-39-gender-care-state-funding-ban/) [SB 116 OPPOSE DNA Collection from Detained Immigrants](/scorecard/bills/sb-116-dna-collection-from-detained-immigrants/) ### 2023–2024 Session [SB 44 OPPOSE Gang Mandatory Minimum Sentences](/scorecard/bills/sb-44-street-gang-terrorism-and-prevention-act-gang-mandatory-minimum-sentences/) [SB 63 OPPOSE Expanded Cash Bail Requirements](/scorecard/bills/sb-63-bail-reform-expanded-cash-bail-requirements/) [SB 159 OPPOSE Cell Phone Ban in Prisons](/scorecard/bills/sb-159-cell-phone-ban-in-prisons/) [HB 505 OPPOSE Riot Felony Penalty Enhancement](/scorecard/bills/hb-505-riot-felony-penalty-enhancement/) [HB 364 SUPPORT Wrongful Conviction Compensation](/scorecard/bills/hb-364-wrongful-conviction-compensation/) ### 2021–2022 Session [SB 441 SUPPORT Reducing Barriers to Reentry Act](/scorecard/bills/sb-441-reducing-barriers-to-reentry-act/) [SB 174 SUPPORT Unsecured Judicial Release](/scorecard/bills/sb-174-unsecured-judicial-release/) [HB 272 SUPPORT Raise Juvenile Court Jurisdiction to 18](/scorecard/bills/hb-272-raise-juvenile-court-jurisdiction-to-18/) [HB 1216 OPPOSE Enhanced Fleeing Police Penalties](/scorecard/bills/hb-1216-enhanced-fleeing-police-penalties/) [SB 504 OPPOSE Expanded Bail Restrictions](/scorecard/bills/sb-504-expanded-bail-restrictions/) [View Full Legislator Scorecard →](/scorecard/) ## How to Vote [#### Primary Election Day May 19, 2026. Polls open 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Georgia has open primaries — you can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary (but not both). Find Your Polling Place →](https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/) [#### Registration Deadline April 20, 2026 (30 days before the primary). Register online at the Georgia Secretary of State's My Voter Page or at your county registrar's office. Register to Vote →](https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/olvr-home) [#### Early Voting Begins three weeks before the election. Find early voting locations, dates, and hours for your county. Find Early Voting Locations →](https://elections.sos.ga.gov/Elections/advancedVotingInfo.do) [#### Absentee Voting Request an absentee ballot from your county elections office. Applications must be received by 11 days before the election. Request Absentee Ballot →](https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/voter-absentee-files) GPS does not endorse candidates. This guide presents documented positions and public records to inform voters. GPS is reaching out to all qualified candidates with the questions above and will update this guide as responses are received. Sources: GPS 2025–2026 Candidate Research, Ballotpedia, Georgia Recorder, AP, CBS Atlanta, Emerson College Polling, FOX 5 Atlanta, Atlanta News First, candidate campaign websites, Georgia Republican Party candidate guide.