Can newfound cities keep citizens’ interest?
Seven new cities have formed in Metro Atlanta during the last decade, but residents’ enthusiasm for their newfound governments tends to fade after a few years.
Elections go uncontested, and voter turnout declines in most cases, according to a review of election records by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Supporters of the cities say a decline in electoral involvement may reflect satisfaction with local government rather than apathy.
Two more potential cities, LaVista Hills and Tucker, will be on the ballot Nov. 3. If they're approved, leaders of those cityhood movements say they're confident citizens will stay involved.
About the Author
Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.
