09/17/2024 Board of Elections Meeting
Call to Order
Roll Call
Approval of Agenda & Minutes: Yay: 3, No:0
Old Business
11/5/2024 Preparation
Notice in paper - L&O start tomorrow
State coming by tomorrow to swap out UPS Batteries for machines. They are going to demonstrate how the batteries work because there are different levels of batteries for different thing: 80 batteries similar to what they already have, 156 other batteries, 300+ batteries with another purpose.
Larry Higgins & Ms. Gay expressed concerns about not mixing up which batteries go with which machines. They’ll need to make sure they are clearly marked with stickers and placards so there’s no confusion.
Ballots are. They are not on My Voter Page yet.
865 Regular absentee ballots to be mailed on 10/7
1387 Disability ballots
UCAVA Ballots (military): 53 by mail, 259 electronic, 4 cure pending
SEB Proposed Rules 9/20/2024 Meeting
Clarification from last meeting: An affidavit is not needed if a ballot is dropped off at the front desk or already official sites. An affidavit is only needed if the county sets up a separate location, such as Grovetown City Hall. Not going to do that though, so don’t worry about that.
There are 11 proposed rules that are accessible on the website. Many of the proposed rules, we already do in Columbia County. According to Sec of State and county lawyers though, proposed rule changes are not in the same terminology as Georgia State Law, so it invalidates the rule changes.
Ms. Gay proposed requesting police officers to attend poll worker training for the benefit of poll workers. Everyone agreed that was a good idea if it can be scheduled.
Community Question: How can we fix Parkway as a precinct? Community member is concerned with children’s safety as they attend school that day. Community member had concerns with communication from Parkway Elementary regarding election day and would like the calendar changed to give students the day off school.
Board agreed that they do not like having a precinct in the school. The only other building that could be used is Redeemer Churcher and (for an unspecified reason in the meeting), Redeemer Church can’t be used.
Houses keep popping up without infrastructure, and this is one of the results.
Nightmare having a precinct in the schools because of traffic and other concerns.
BoE will move the precinct after this election but it will have to much further away from this neighborhood and the State doesn’t *like* that.
Community Member was advised to contact Judy Teasley regarding the school calendar.
Community Question about the rules:
Most of the rules Columbia County already does
The County will need to buy more memory cards in order to store data for a longer period.
Notice about bad mail: Different elections offices have received suspicious packages with white powder substances. Employees are instructed to use gloves when opening mail/packages.
Community Question & Discussion: Wondering if there is anything on the driver license that a poll worker can see if a person is a citizen or not. Another community member mentioned that the driver license will say “limited services.” Ms. Gay will see if she can find an example online. Community members have concerns that there are “more noncitizens in the US due to the policies of the current administration.” Ms. Gay asked for references and factual data for that statement and citizen didn’t respond. Ms. Gay stated that the State did an audit of the voter rolls and anyone that showed questionable citizenship status had to remedy their registration with documents. Another community member mentioned that some newly naturalized citizens haven’t updated their driver license yet but they are naturalized citizens and eligible to vote. Another community member asked if they are newly naturalized and have a non-citizen driver license if they are required to show documentation that they are naturalized. Ms. Gay and Larry Wiggins informed that the registration is through the Secretary of State, so if they are a registered voter, they only have to show a state-approved picture ID. The law would need to change in order for poll workers to require documentation of naturalization status if using a non-citizen ID.
Response to Community Question: Current batteries last for 2 hours.
Community Question about qualified electors and a list: Ms. Gay informed that the Secretary of State generates the list and then it’s sent here. That list is used as a physical backup list.
*They continued the discussion after this but I had to leave.