Based on the generalized Huygens-Fresnel diffraction principle and the quadratic approximation of Rytov′phase structure function, the analytical expression for the cross-spectral density matrix of the electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams propagating through turbulent atmosphere is derived. The influence of the turbulent on polarization properties of the elliptically polarized electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams in propagation are studied in this paper. In addition, the polarization properties of an elliptically polarized electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam and a partially polarized electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam are contrasted and analyzed. The results show that compared with the changes in the state of polarization of partially polarized electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams, the elliptically polarized electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams have the advantage of the less influence of turbulence strength. Moreover, the variations of the spectral degree of polarization of the elliptically polarized electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams propagating through turbulence atmospheric are smaller than the partially polarized electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams. But the variations of the orientation angle and the degree of ellipticity of the elliptically polarized electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams propagating are larger than the partially polarized electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beams.