Atlanta, Georgia – November 26, 2025 — South Fulton, Georgia – In a move designed to strengthen public trust and modernise local governance, the South Fulton City Council has approved a pilot programme for blockchain-based campaign finance disclosures, scheduled to begin in November 2025. The initiative, which will run through the end of the year, positions South Fulton as a regional leader in election transparency ahead of the city’s pivotal 2026 local elections.
The council’s decision, announced during Tuesday’s meeting at City Hall, follows months of consultation with technology experts, election officials, and community advocates. The pilot will see candidates for the 2025 municipal elections voluntarily submit campaign finance reports using a secure, blockchain-powered platform, with the aim of providing the public with real-time, tamper-resistant access to financial disclosures.
Councilmember Natasha Williams-Brown, who represents District 6 and is seeking re-election, described the pilot as “a significant step forward for accountability in our city.” She added, “Residents want to know who is funding their leaders. By using blockchain, we can offer a level of transparency and security that has not been possible before.”
The technology underpinning the pilot is based on distributed ledger principles, ensuring that once a campaign finance record is submitted, it cannot be altered or deleted. Each transaction is time-stamped and cryptographically secured, providing an immutable audit trail. The system is designed to be user-friendly for candidates and accessible to the public via a dedicated online portal.
Stephanie G. Johnson, a candidate for mayor in the upcoming election, expressed support for the council’s decision. “Voters deserve confidence that the process is fair and open. This pilot gives every resident the ability to see campaign contributions as they happen, not weeks or months later,” Johnson said.
The pilot programme is being developed in partnership with Georgia-based technology firm CivicLedger, which specialises in blockchain solutions for government transparency. CivicLedger’s CEO, Marcus Reed, explained that the platform will allow candidates to upload financial disclosures directly, with each entry instantly recorded on the blockchain. “Our goal is to make transparency effortless for candidates and meaningful for voters,” Reed stated.
South Fulton’s move comes as interest in blockchain applications for public records grows across Georgia. In 2024, Screven County successfully used blockchain technology to secure election results, demonstrating the potential for distributed ledgers to protect the integrity of sensitive government data. While that effort focused on election outcomes, South Fulton’s pilot marks one of the first attempts in the state to apply blockchain to campaign finance reporting.
City Manager Tamara Jenkins highlighted the broader implications of the pilot. “This is not just about technology; it’s about building trust. We want to show our residents that South Fulton is committed to open government and ethical leadership,” Jenkins said. She noted that the city will collect feedback from candidates, voters, and watchdog groups throughout the pilot period to refine the system before considering full implementation for the 2026 election cycle.
The pilot will be voluntary for all candidates in the November 2025 municipal elections, including those running for mayor and council seats. Traditional paper and electronic filing methods will remain available, but the council hopes that most candidates will opt into the blockchain system to demonstrate their commitment to transparency.
Community groups have welcomed the initiative, with the South Fulton Civic Coalition issuing a statement praising the council’s “forward-thinking approach to campaign finance reform.” Coalition chairperson Angela Moore said, “This pilot gives South Fulton residents unprecedented access to information that matters. It’s a model for other cities in Georgia and beyond.”
Technical workshops for candidates and campaign treasurers are scheduled for early October, with CivicLedger staff providing training and support. The city will also host public demonstrations of the platform, allowing residents to explore how blockchain records are created and accessed.
Looking ahead, the council has indicated that, if successful, the pilot could pave the way for mandatory blockchain disclosures in future elections. Councilmember Jaceey Sebastian, District 4 incumbent, remarked, “We are laying the groundwork for a new era of transparency. The lessons we learn this year will shape how we conduct elections for years to come.”
As South Fulton prepares for its November pilot, officials remain optimistic that the project will enhance public confidence and set a new standard for openness in local politics. The city’s commitment to innovation and ethical governance continues to draw attention across Georgia, with other municipalities watching closely as the pilot unfolds.
With the 2026 local elections on the horizon, South Fulton’s blockchain campaign finance disclosure pilot represents a constructive step towards a more transparent and accountable future.
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