PRESENT
Dele Lowman Smith (D) Chair
Nancy Jester (R) Vice Chair
Karli Swift (At Large)
Anthony Lewis (R)
Susan Motter (D)
- APPROVAL OF AGENDA
- APPROVAL OF MINUTES: of 5/11/23 regular meeting
- PUBLIC COMMENTS
Gail A. Lee: Thanks Chair Lowman Smith for her service. Notes SOS has made a mess of GARVIS.
Complains DeKalb voter rolls are still imperfect.
Liz Throop: Describes recent discoveries about breached election software and encourages use
of Emergency Paper Ballots
- ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
A. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
DIRECTOR SMITH: Describes updates to voter registration, including new data from DDS; new
city council and school board districts; bugs in the SOS system affecting redistricting. The elections
office is working on inventory and asset management control. Anticipates elections in
municipalities in November. Governor proclaimed March 12, 2024 as the date of the Presidential
Primary.
Introducing a Precinct Project to get organizations to adopt and staff polling locations.
A new warehouse manager, registration technician, and communications workers are being
brought on.
Will hold Excellence in Elections training for all staff.
Smith reviewed the budget, including plans for larger facilities and @2.1 million for hubs to
transport the heavy BMDs and their batteries.
Elections now have a dedicated email just for ORRs
[email protected]
The department is updating its website.
Thanks and praises Chair Lowman Smith.
MOTTER: Asks about reclassified expenses in budget.
JESTER: Differentiates between proposed annual budgets and budget reconciliation reports.
MOTTER: Mentions two board members are not receiving their stipends, and that an ex-board
member has continued to receive stipends after ending service.
DIRECTOR SMITH: Notes the Dominion Voting warranty costs over $400,000 annually.
Unidentified worker explains department is behind in paying for truck rentals from previous
election.
The Precinct Project will allow an organization’s volunteers to work as poll workers but donate
their salaries to their organization.
Details purchase of hubs from Runbeck for $2,241,125, and how they will make unpacking and
setting up BMDs unnecessary because equipment will be stored in place. She says there is
already room to store these large hubs. Long term they want another 25,000 feet to store
equipment. Before 2024, she hopes to purchase 26-foot trucks with lifts to transport the hubs,
which must be wheeled in and out of polling places.
JESTER: Details that DeKalb will buy enough hubs to house 2,237 BMDs – plus shipping and,
eventually, trucks.
- ITEMS FOR DECISION
A. PRECINCT BOUNDARY CHANGES
MOTTER: Moves to approve a proposed precinct change. (The proposal was not distributed in
print to members of the public, although was in the pdf packet on their website)
Board votes 5 – 0 to approve. - EXECUTIVE SESSION
NA - BOARD COMMENTS
JESTER, SWIFT, MOTTER: Praise Chair Lowman Smith upon her completion of her service on the
BRE.
LEWIS: Thanks - The board votes 5 – 0 to approve purchase.
CHAIR LOWMAN SMITH: Wants to see DeKalb as leader in elections. For example, when DeKalb
scheduled early voting in the 2021 runoff, other counties followed. Thanks to numerous
organizations and individuals and advocates following the Constitution.
- ADJOURNMENT
5:45 approx.
These meetings are open to the public by Georgia law.
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