Members present: Myesha Good (chair), Chad Word, Kevin Evans, Maurice Hurry, Robert Proctor
Director: Milton Kidd
Office operations
M. Kidd and staff reported on the following:
? Kidd announced a new board member, Bob Proctor.
? Staff reported they have begun planning their workload and calendar around the election
schedule. They will be reporting more at future meetings.
? Staff reported one municipal precinct in Douglasville has about 60 voters, and it will have to be
open for the municipal elections. They are discussing options with the city that could merge this
precinct with another precinct.
? Kidd reported the county will have to enter into a lease this year for property that was paid for
with grant funds for the past four years. He will bring the issue up to the Board of
Commissioners. He said this is part of an issue they have raised with the county commissioners
about the need for a long-term solution to the office’s space needs.
After a discussion, M. Hurry moved that the elections board send a letter to the county
commissioners requesting that they meet to discuss steps to address the election board’s space
needs. The motion passed unanimously.
? Staff reported they have begun meeting with the cities of Villa Rica and Douglasville to prepare
for the municipal elections. In response to a question, Kidd said these meetings are to address
statutory deadlines like filing fees. He expects the cities will contract with the county elections
office to administer the elections.
? Staff reported they will be attending training provided by the Secretary of State’s Office on the
election management system.
Old business
The following items were brought up:
? Kidd provided a copy of the board resolution to the State Elections Board that requests the SEB
refrain from implementing rules or policies 90 days before a general election. They passed this
resolution at the October board meeting.
? Staff reported they have cleared the voter registration backlog. There are working on
application discrepancies for about 80 voters. Most had registered with the Department of
Drivers Services and had P.O. boxes as their residential addresses.
New business
Kidd reported that he and other senior staff be entering a program for national certification called the
Certification of Elections and Registration Administrators. The program involves coursework on elections
administration, law, management, and leadership. It is provided by Auburn University and will take
about a year to complete.
Director’s concerns
Kidd reported that on January 1, homeless voters must use the courthouse as their place of residency
and address. He said this creates two problems.
- For municipal elections, all individuals will only be allowed to vote in Douglasville even though
they might reside elsewhere in the county. This effectively disenfranchises them. - Private individuals are not allowed to receive mail at the courthouse, and they will not receive
any notices or other mail sent by the elections office.
Kidd said he plans on raising this problem with the State Elections Board at the next meeting. He said
they have not received any guidance from the SOS. M. Good asked how will unhoused persons know
where to vote. C. Word asked for a copy of the bill and number of persons effected, which Kidd said he
would provide.
After discussion, they decided Kidd would email the SOS for guidance. Depending on that response, they
may take up drafting a letter to the SEB.
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