Northwest Georgia Elections Supervisors To Address Voting Security

A group of area election supervisors is meeting Wednesday morning to discuss election security and the newly approved rules from the State Elections Board.

The purpose of the meeting, which will take place at the Floyd County Election Center at 9:30 a.m., is to speak with 14th District U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene regarding election security, and County Attorney Virginia Harman concerning the latest rule changes to election procedures.

“We use these meetings as opportunities to educate ourselves and share information among elections supervisors,” Floyd County Election Supervisor Akyn Beck said. “Plus, we’re very lucky that in Floyd County we have such an accomplished county attorney.”

One of the concerns for the upcoming election is the continuing delivery issues with the U.S. Postal Service, Beck said. The elections supervisor hopes to receive an update from Greene on this issue.

Harman is expected to brief supervisors on recent rule changes that could significantly impact the upcoming election.

One of the rule changes allows elections officials to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” regarding results before certifying the election.

A challenge to those rules changes by the Democratic Party, and other plaintiffs, was heard by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney on Tuesday.

While he didn’t make an immediate ruling , McBurney indicated that he is unlikely to overturn the State Election Board’s actions. All parties involved in the hearing agreed that election results must be certified by the Nov. 12 deadline, “reasonable inquiry” or not.

“The deadline is the deadline... but you make your inquiry and then it’s wheels up at 5 p.m. on the 12th of November,” McBurney said during the hearing.

The Floyd County Board of Elections is also holding a voter accessibility town hall on Thursday at 1 p.m. focusing on accommodations for the disabled population. It will occur at the Floyd County Administration Building, 12 E. Fourth Ave., in downtown Rome.

Topics will include rollover lists for absentee ballot applications, and a mock precinct will be set up consisting of ATI voting machines.

“It’s a great way to learn how to vote if you’re disabled,” Beck said.

The board will also hold a special called meeting Friday morning to hear three challenges to the registration of individual voters the elections office believes are no longer residents of Floyd County.

“One of the registered voters has several active warrants, so I’m sure the police would like him to show up,” Beck said. “The other two appear to be a couple that has moved, and the new residents of the house alerted us.”

The special called meeting will be in the Floyd County Administration building at 9 a.m.