Category Archives: Voting

February 2020 Newsletter

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Are you ready to let 16-year-olds vote?

No person shall vote in any primary or election held in this state unless such person shall be: (1) Registered as an elector in the manner prescribed by law; (2) A citizen of this state and of the United States; (3) At least 18 years of age on or before the date of the primary or election in which such person seeks to vote; (4) A resident of this state and of the county or municipality in which he or she seeks to vote.
– O.C.G.A. 21-2-216(a)

H.R. 893 Vote at Age 16 in School District Elections, introduced January 16th by Democrat Representatives Sandra Scott (Dist. 76) and Kim Schofield (Dist. 60), provides for 16-year-olds to vote in elections for school board members and funding (sales and use taxes) for schools. Representative Scott’s district includes portions of Clayton and Henry Counties; Representative Schofield’s district is in portions of Clayton and Fulton County. When asked about her bill, Representative Scott explained that it is meant to encourage 16-year-olds to be more active in civics and become political activists.
ACTION – Oppose. Call Governmental Affairs Committee Representatives Rynders, Ch., 404 656-6801; Jones, V-Ch., 656-0213; Blackmon, Sec., 463-7853; Burnough, 656-0116; Collins, 656-1803; Gravley, 463-8143; Gullett, 656-0177; Lumsden, 656-5087; Nguyen, 656-0314; Oliver, 656-0265; Powell, Alan, 463-3793; Shannon, 656-7859; Taylor, 6560109; Trammell, 656-5058; Turner, 656-0152; Williams, M., 656-0287; Williams, R., 656-0287; Williamson, 656-5024; Fleming, 656-5125.

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February 9, 2018 Radio Commentary

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Poll Times, Voting Machines & Registration

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 9, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

During this session, the Georgia General Assembly has introduced at least three bills that would affect when we vote, the kind of voting equipment we’ll use, and where voter registration will be held.

As for when we vote, the days won’t change, but the time for polls to open and close will become uniform across the state if this bill passes as introduced.  Senator McKoon introduced S.B. 309 on January 9th to require Georgia polling places for primaries and elections to open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m., whether it’s Eastern Standard Time or daylight saving time.

Also, if his bill passes as introduced, it would include a two-part method for determining how to fill vacancies that occur in Georgia’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.  The first option authorizes a special election if more than twelve months remain in the term that was vacated.  The second option authorizes the governor or his designee to appoint a successor if the remainder of the term is under 12 months.  If you agree with that plan, call Senator Burke at 404 656-0040 and ask him to pass it out of his committee.

H.B. 680, introduced January 18th by Representative Scot Turner, would return Georgia to a paper ballot voting system.  If passed, the electronic voting system would be replaced with a new system of paper ballots, ballot marking devices especially designed for marking paper ballots, ballot scanners, and automatic tabulating equipment to count votes. Continue reading →