Only Courthouse To Be Open for Run-off

In the regular meeting held on June 24 at 6 p.m., the Board of Elections and Registration discussed the first election (and subsequent runoff) since personnel changes earlier in the year. They also discussed the closing of polling places for the upcoming runoff, as well as revisiting the server room expansion topic.

The election for Public Service Commissioner (PSC) was the first one conducted since the installment of a new supervisor, staff, and board members, and it has concluded, resulting in a run off for the democratic candidates. That democratic runoff will be held on July 15, with early voting taking place at the courthouse the week of July 7-11.

For this runoff, absentee ballots will not be mailed to all absentee voters, but only members of the democratic party that requested one for this original PSC election.

During the first public comment period, Mary Patrick submitted questions from the Republican Party for state approval to be placed on the ballot in November.

Sharon Kachur attended the meeting to share her thoughts on closing polling places, like Martin & Burney and Wyatt. She stated that it can be difficult for some to get to their polling places as they are, and if they are not aware their polling place will be closed, it could be a deterrent and cause confusion for voters.

She also inquired as to if the Republican party would be upset ‘if the shoe were on the other foot.’ It was decided that the courthouse would be the only open polling place for the upcoming runoff, for an estimated savings of $4,000 in ballots, personnel, and other costs.

In old business, it appears that the server room expansion is still plausible, and the board agreed to seek updated quotes for review and discussion at a later date.

Elections Supervisor David McGuire shared voter results during his update. During the recent election, voter turn out was dismal, with only 3.45 percent of registered voters turning up to cast their ballots. Out of 12,274 registered voters, only 423 voters showed up (or mailed ballots) to exercise their voting rights.

It was decided that for the runoff, that the courthouse would be the designated polling place, citing budget and personnel concerns. Georgia law only requires that one polling place be open during a runoff where the original election produces less than one percent of voters, as was the case with the democratic vote, with 74 in person votes.

Republicans cast a significant amount more with 311 in-person votes. Republicans will not be voting in this runoff, as only the democratic candidates are involved in a runoff.

Mr. McGuire shared that Logic & Accuracy testing is scheduled, and that July 26-28 will bring a risk limiting audit.

In the last public comment period, Mary Patrick stated that she was in the server room after this past election, for an adjudication meeting, and that there was ample room for two people. She also stated that she thought the discussion of expansion was over, and that if the board wants to save money by closing a polling place, then it should also consider saving money by not moving the wall in the server room.

Before moving into an executive session to discuss personnel, Chairman Guy Tucker shared that the election did go smoothly, considering a new board, personnel, and poll workers, and thanked everyone who helped make it a successful election. The next meeting is scheduled for July 7 at 6 p.m.