Mulberry, Georgia, Creation of New City Measure (May 2024)

Gwinnett County Creation of New City Measure
Election date May 21, 2024
Topic Incorporation, merging, and boundaries of local jurisdictions
Status Approved
Type Referral

Gwinnett County Creation of New City Measure was on the ballot as a referral in Gwinnett County on May 21, 2024. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported incorporating the city of Mulberry in northeastern Gwinnett County.

A "no" vote opposed incorporating the city of Mulberry in northeastern Gwinnett County.

Overview

The ballot measure incorporated the city of Mulberry in northeastern Gwinnett County. It also included the proposed City of Mulberry Charter, which created a five-member city council. The measure specified that council members were to be elected by district. Additionally, the measure provided that by a majority vote, council members would select one among themselves to serve as mayor, who could be removed and replaced at any time by a majority vote.

As the ballot measure was approved, voters elected the five city council members at the general election in November 2024.

Election results

Gwinnett County Creation of New City Measure
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		4,551	56.96%
No		3,439	43.04%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Creation of New City Measure was as follows:

“

Shall the Act incorporating the City of Mulberry in Gwinnett County according to the charter contained in the Act be approved?

”

Support

Arguments

• House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration (R-104): "The idea here is that local government that's closest to the people can be most responsive. If a council member has a constituency of less than 10,000 residents, there's a chance for you to easily get in touch with that council member to express your concerns or your support for any proposal, and for the process to be streamlined. In many ways, this will take away the responsibility that county government currently has in that area."
• State Sen. Clint Dixon (R-45): "SB 333 will greatly impact my constituents of the 45th Senate District, who have been negatively affected by zoning issues in our area. I am confident that the incorporation of the City of Mulberry will return power and local control to the citizens of Gwinnett County."

Opposition

Arguments

• State Sen. Nikki Merritt (D-9): "We’re seeing this pattern of: I don’t want it in my backyard. I don’t want those people coming in my backyard. I want to create a boundary of my own and consolidate my affluency. And I want to keep certain people out."
• State Rep. Dewey McClain (D-109): "Somebody’s got to pick it up. Somebody’s got to pick up that $9 million. It is not a free lunch. It is not a free breakfast. It’s not a free dinner. And it’s definitely not even a free snack. So, who’s going to pick up that $9 million? The other 940,000 people that did not have a say so in how this money is being spent. We all know that this should have taken two years, the minimum of two years, to do a study. What my constituents are saying is they probably should change the name to the city of the freeloaders."

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in Georgia

The Georgia State Legislature passed Senate Bill 333 (SB 333), which referred the measure to the ballot. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed the bill on February 13, 2024.

The Georgia State Senate voted 30-15 to pass SB 333 on February 1, 2024. In the Senate, the bill divided Republicans and Democrats. Senate Republicans supported SB 333, while Democrats opposed the bill. The Georgia House of Representatives voted 101-63 to pass the bill on February 8. In the House, Democrats voted 5-63, while Republicans supported SB 333.

Hughes v. Gwinnett County Board of Registration and Elections

On April 26, 2024, Stephen Hughes, a resident of Gwinnett County, filed litigation against the referendum, arguing that SB 333 is unconstitutional. On May 16, Judge Tadia Whitner stated that a ruling before the election was premature.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Georgia

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Georgia.

How to vote in Georgia

Poll times

In Georgia, polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Eastern Time. In cities with a population greater than 300,000 people, polls remain open until 8 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Georgia, one must be a citizen of the United States and a legal resident of their county. The voter must be at least 17.5 years of age at the time of registration and 18 at the time of the election, and not serving a sentence for a felony conviction.

The deadline to register to vote is 29 days prior to the election. Registration can be completed online, in person, or by mail.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

In Georgia, eligible voters are automatically registered to vote when they conduct transactions at the Department of Driver Services. The eligible voter may opt-out of registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Georgia has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Georgia does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Georgia, a voter must be a resident of the state, and of the county in which they are registering. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

A Georgia state law, passed in 2009, required voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. However, as of September 2025, the law had not been implemented.

In Georgia, an individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, a voter who provides false information on a voter registration application is guilty of a felony.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site GA My Voter Page, run by the Georgia Secretary of State's office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Georgia requires voters to present photo identification while voting in person or by mail/absentee.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of September 2025. Click here for the Georgia Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“

Any valid state or federal government-issued photo ID, including a free ID card issued by your county registrar's office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services. A Georgia driver's license, even if expired Student ID from a Georgia public College or University Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state Valid U.S. passport ID Valid U.S. military photo ID containing a photograph of the voter Valid tribal photo ID containing a photograph of the voter

”

Voters can obtain a free voter ID card from any county registrar's office or Department of Driver Services Office. Click here for more information on obtaining a free voter ID card in Georgia.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2024
• Incorporation, merging, and boundaries of local jurisdictions on the ballot

Georgia

• Georgia 2024 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Georgia
• Gwinnett County, Georgia

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas