It’s time for in-district voting in Chamblee

Even though I live in District 4 in Chamblee, my ballot this November includes the District 1 city council race. That’s because Chamblee still uses a citywide voting system for district seats — a setup that’s increasingly out of step with other metro cities and deserves another look. 

Chamblee originally had five council districts.  Decades ago, the city moved to three districts and two at-large seats because some districts struggled to find candidates.  At the time, the city was much smaller — about one-third of its current size — and this made sense. Then came two major annexations: 

• In 2010, Chamblee added Huntley Hills and roughly 5,000 new residents. 

• In 2013, voters approved annexing the Dresden East and Clairmont Road neighborhoods. 

By the 2020 census, Chamblee’s population had tripled — from about 9,800 residents in 2010 to more than 30,000. 

In 2021, the city created a fourth district centered on the Dresden East area to ensure representation for that part of town, but Chamblee kept its unusual voting system: residents still vote citywide for every district seat. 

Here’s why this needs to change: 

• Voters in a district can have their preferred candidate overridden by citywide voters who don’t live there. 

• It gives an unfair advantage for incumbents and big campaigns. Running citywide takes more money and name recognition, which makes it harder for grassroots candidates. 

• Citywide elections can make it harder for minority or newer communities to elect representatives of their choice. 

• It can produce a lack of diversity in leadership. Citywide elections often produce politically uniform councils, even when neighborhoods differ. 

• It is a legal risk. Other cities have faced Voting Rights Act lawsuits over systems like this. When Chamblee sought to annex the Embry Hills area, the president of the Georgia NAACP warned that the city’s voting method could be problematic. 

Neighboring cities like Brookhaven and Dunwoody elect council members by district, not citywide. Doraville recently changed its own system, adopting a hybrid model: two in-district seats and four at-large seats. Dunwoody’s model is similar, with three districts each electing one member by district and another at-large. 

Chamblee already has one at-large council seat. The city could simply make the four remaining seats in-district. This would keep citywide accountability through the at-large position while finally giving each neighborhood a direct voice in choosing its representative. 

Those who support the current system often argue it promotes broader accountability and unity — and that’s fair. But moving to in-district voting would preserve broader accountability while ensuring local representation truly means local. 

Now is the time for Chamblee to bring its election system in line with neighboring cities and ensure every neighborhood has a true voice. Chamblee residents, please contact the mayor and city council and urge them to adopt in-district voting for district seats. Real change starts when residents speak up. 

–Jordan Fox 

Chamblee