Category Archives: Elections

October 19, 2018 Radio Commentary

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Do-Over Election December 4

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, October 19, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

On September 18th, Banks County Superior Court Judge Sweat invalidated the May 22nd Primary Election in House District 28, that includes three counties – Stephens, Banks, and Habersham.  He ruled that a do-over election is necessary to correct inadvertent mistakes made by election officials in that district.  Meaning, voters who participate in the December 4th election will decide who represents House District 28 during the 2019-2020 term.

Background: The incumbent, Representative Dan Gasaway, ran for re-election in District 28, but lost by 67 votes in the Primary.  Soon after the election, Mrs. Gasaway learned that a co-worker who lives in House District 28would have voted for Representative Gasaway, but his name was not on her ballot.

Incumbent Gasaway filed a lawsuit after learning that the co-worker was not the only voter who cast wrong ballots in House Districts 28 and 10.  Seventy-two people in Habersham County and two people in Stephens County voted on wrong ballots, but Banks County had no contested votes.  Continue reading →

October 5, 2018 Radio Commentary

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October 9th, Last Day to Register

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, October 5, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

This is “crunch-time” if you have not registered to vote.  The November General Election is only a month away and, to be eligible to vote for governor and other officials on November 6th, you must be registered by Tuesday, October 9th.  Early voting and absentee in-person voting begins October 15th and ends October 31st.  The last day an absentee ballot can be mailed to you is November 2nd.  For those who cannot vote during week-days, polls will be open Saturday, October 27th.

I cannot overstate the importance of your vote in November.  The passage or defeat of critical issues depends on what happens that day.  In-state cultivation of marijuana will be adopted or rejected by legislators who are elected on November 6th.  The new governor could be faced with having to veto or sign marijuana bills that could destroy the soul of the state.

Georgia State Law: Possessing one ounce or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by one year in prison and a fine up to $1,000; possessing between one ounce and ten pounds is a felony subject to 1-10 years prison; penalties increase for larger amounts.  However, four local governments drastically reduced penalties for marijuana possession in their jurisdictions. Continue reading →

September 2018 Newsletter

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Voter Registration, Early Voting, and a “Do-Over” Election

  • October 9 Last day to register and be eligible to vote November 6
  • October 15 – 31 Advanced absentee in-person voting for November 6
  • October 27 Mandatory Saturday voting for November 6
  • November 2 Last day for a registrar to issue or mail absentee ballots for November 6

May 22nd Election Overturned in House District 28, Do-Over December 4

“More votes than 67 were cast in an incorrect district. Outcome of the election is in question because we do not know how those votes would have been voted. A new election must be held.”
– Banks County Superior Court Senior Judge David Sweat, September 18, 2018

News Flash! Her ballot was for the wrong district. During a conversation, Representative Dan Gasaway’s wife learned that her co-worker would have voted for Mr. Gasaway in the May 22nd Primary Election, but couldn’t because his name was not on her ballot. So, why not request a correct ballot? Perhaps, she wasn’t familiar with her House district number or the names of candidates running in her district. All are very important facts to know before voting.

After incumbent Representative Gasaway lost the Primary by 67 votes, he soon learned that seventy-four people had been given wrong ballots and had voted on wrong ballots in the State House Primary for District 28, which includes Habersham, Banks, and Stephens Counties.

In Habersham County 72 people voted the wrong ballot; two voted wrong ballots in Stephens County; but no votes were contested in Banks County.
Gasaway filed a lawsuit, claiming that some voters who live along the District 28/District 10 dividing line in Habersham County were given the wrong ballots for the May Primary Election.

The complexity of the situation was explained by Habersham County Commission Chairman Victor Anderson who said, “On some properties they had to actually determine where the house is in relation to that line [on the reapportionment map showing district boundaries], even though part of the property was in 28 and part in 10. Where the house resides, determines where the voter lives. It was a fairly complicated process.”

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August 2018 Newsletter

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Voters have the final word!

Amendments to the Constitution or a new Constitution may be proposed by the General Assembly or by a constitutional convention, as provided by this article. Only amendments which are of general and uniform applicability throughout the state shall be proposed, passed, or submitted to the people.
– Constitution of the State of Georgia, Article X, Section I, Paragraph I

Proposed Amendment: H.R. 51 Forest Land Fair Market Value Assessment, Taxation
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to revise provisions related to the subclassification for tax purposes of and the prescribed methodology for establishing the value of forest land conservation use property and related assistance grants, to provide that assistance grants related to forest land conservation use property may be increased by general law for a five-year period and that up to 5 percent of assistance grants may be deducted and retained by the state revenue commissioner to provide for certain state administrative costs, and to provide for the subclassification of qualified timberland property for ad valorem taxation purposes?” Yes____No____

Note: This changes the methods of assessing and taxing “forest land conservation use property.” Currently, such must exceed 200 acres. This changes the required acreage to “at least 200 acres in aggregate” in one or two counties with at least 100 acres within a county. It defines a fair market value of forest land and allows the state to tax assistance grants five-percent for administration costs. A qualified timberland property appraisal manual would be adopted. However, Department of Revenue appraisals of timberland could be appealed.

  • To read the rest of this newsletter in PDF format, please click here.