[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6636167,"mediaKeyId","2615927-f4c46fd989f870bee55db172c011e32a","parentId",2615927,"title","Elections director: DeKalb has 598,038 registered voters; backlog mostly cleared for 2025, mobile voting unit planned for 2026; challenger hearing set","audioSeconds",251,"startMs",1477000,"endMs",1728000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615927-f4c46fd989f870bee55db172c011e32a&start=1477&end=1728","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615927-f4c46fd989f870bee55db172c011e32a/thumbnail_1477000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6636167/DeKalb-County/Georgia/Elections-director-DeKalb-has-598038-registered-voters-backlog-mostly-cleared-for-2025-mobile-voting-unit-planned-for-2026-challenger-hearing-set","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636167-eea426c1421252b8a0bc679b88cb6ad7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140041&Signature=mDxLYnwPT-nncWIFsSsbMf7lBNZHOm7rH6i5LMoMVKMsEE-bcg0O0wiEQ-8~xE5wqIgPjAoJPzWd61XHCf1~qkGgpWAyRxunxVFc~c5Dpbd2kkxnapvZ1PsEFGb~A2zQzOKIeUlHgKoQeApfxIYIr-Fz9r95f5I~u-pcnWzfMvrNfLHuZ81aGaz73zr8ezeiAsu-UYkHSzC2qMCI-tQ3HCKeC7b4hoNvNBdTA5SkEx1Yv84kjqf5Vi86RNyM-TZFtFYBeLhsbXiJOt~IlN6UjQPXJa0CkJ~NfQzOHckYW-C7dQXvCZ4bAe06VIhWudA2hw34AFicrF05mypBWw79Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb County","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","Director Smith told the board on March 13 that, as of March 6, DeKalb County had 598,038 registered voters: 510,481 active and 87,557 inactive. The director said staff were processing applications daily and that the packet numbers change frequently.

Smith told the board the registrations that remain from the 2024 cycle total 3,922 applications requiring processing, and the packet listed a broader total of 8,260 applications awaiting action across various submission channels. Manual registration cancellations reported in the packet totaled 173.

Registration Supervisor Holly Smith told the board staff were \"completely caught up\" with 2025 applications in the Oliver and MVP systems and that only limited items remained in DDS that required cure letters or additional information. She said Oliver had a backlog left from multiple duplicate submissions in 2024 and that staff were clearing those entries; she said about 21 MVP items and roughly 59 DDS items remained under active review.

Director Smith also reported that the board's budget request to reinstate previously proposed funding was approved; the final FY2025 budget included about $600,000 that staff said will fund six additional full-time equivalents (including fringe and benefits). Staff also said the board received approval to proceed with purchasing a mobile voting unit, to be built out through Fleet using remaining FY2024 surplus funds; the mobile unit build-out is now expected to complete in 2026.

On challenges to registration, Director Smith said the office received a set of challenges from a named challenger, Bill Henderson, on March 6; staff said notices will go out to the challenged voters and to the challenger and that hearing dates will be scheduled for the next board meeting. The director emphasized the challenger bears the burden of proof under the challenge process.

Public commenters urged the board to resist broad or unfounded challenges to registrations and to prioritize education and outreach. Elizabeth Shackleford, a public commenter, criticized recent legislative proposals and said in part, \"ill conceived laws like Georgia's sb189 are a bad solution in search of a nonexistent problem,\" while other commenters asked the board to focus on voter education for down-ballot contests and to ensure signage and outreach at changed polling places.

Staff outlined the operations steps they are taking to address the backlogs, augment temporary staffing, check poll official availability and prepare outreach materials for early voting. The board did not take a new vote on staffing or the mobile unit at the March 13 meeting; staff said the budget approval process already provided those funds and staff will proceed with hiring and procurement steps.

Context and next steps
Staff will send notices to voters named in the Bill Henderson challenges and schedule hearings at the next board meeting; they will also continue to fill positions funded in the FY2025 budget and continue the mobile-unit buildout with Fleet.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeKalb County - Board of Registration and Elections Meeting - Mar 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Director Smith told the DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections on March 13 that as of March 6 the county had 598,038 registered voters and that staff have largely cleared the 2025 registration backlog while continuing to address residual 2024 cases.","taxTitle","DeKalb County, Georgia","taxId",3571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6636172,"DeKalb board approves early-voting plan and locations for June special election",467,5124000,5591000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615927-f4c46fd989f870bee55db172c011e32a&start=5124&end=5591","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615927-f4c46fd989f870bee55db172c011e32a/thumbnail_5124000.jpg","/articles/6636172/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-board-approves-early-voting-plan-and-locations-for-June-special-election","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636172-043a4f2cafb659482c6d306347401ba3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140041&Signature=UshL1eJ9AmfDAozmjdrFCF4N1oPjo4LHU3YdYh~ZMVz0UO9EFh2YVAJ~dzrAov1MRTwAQ5ebmdBjwFqa7ig0y~V04EifsnnaNLcnPAlW18YW1soSXd1~7Np83oaaoOkb8FXcvBMq4C0oiaGvQ7xW0LaFjAEgoP31MW6ivdavLUT2NXCei5qXMRDGWUoNAf0k4kS0qtT1blwKKJ5cfhFqeTOCVjuN6gRbOVFFmpa2s3185zOcb2ev9OBZ1DWjUyJbAMI6RBw0UBNNFG7014Z3a9J5kfBCKqQJC9TVTfIOjQs2JWA8ehkhLIEkweliLZzBOh4N5iktau7Ojx5w9bo5hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections on March 13 approved an early-voting schedule and a list of 10 proposed early-voting sites for the June 17 special election for public service commissioner, with a subsequent July 15 runoff date if needed.

Director Smith said the early-voting proposal offers broad geographic coverage across the county and that staff recommended moving the first early-voting day to Tuesday because of a state or federal holiday that would otherwise fall on a Monday. The board packet listed the proposed early-voting sites and times and included a map staff said is intended to distribute access countywide.

The ten locations proposed for June early voting (as listed in the board packet) are Berean Christian Church, Bessie Branham Recreation Center, the elections office at Memorial Drive Suite 500 (main office), Dunwoody Library, Emory University, New Bethel AME Church, New Life Community Alliance, North DeKalb Senior Center, Salem Panola Library and Tucker-Reid Library.

\"We're proposing 10 locations for this election ... distributed across the county to provide the access needed,\" Director Smith said in presenting the packet.

A motion to approve the June early-voting dates, times and drop-box locations was made, seconded and passed on a unanimous voice vote. Staff said they would return with any modifications if certification or other circumstances require changes.

Votes at a glance
- Motion: \"Approve the early voting locations, dates, and times, including the drop box locations, for the June special primary.\" Outcome: approved unanimously.

Context and next steps
Staff will continue public outreach, press releases and distribution of informational materials once the board's approval is implemented. If a runoff is necessary, staff said the provisional dates are July 6–(end date per packet) with the runoff scheduled for July 15; the board will review any final adjustments as needed.","The Board of Registration and Elections approved a proposed early-voting schedule and ten locations for the June 17 public service commission special election; the board also authorized the same locations for a possible July 15 runoff.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6636178,"DeKalb board defers renewal of marketing contract; legal to prepare draft for next meeting",1688,3277000,4965000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615927-f4c46fd989f870bee55db172c011e32a&start=3277&end=4965","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615927-f4c46fd989f870bee55db172c011e32a/thumbnail_3277000.jpg","/articles/6636178/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-board-defers-renewal-of-marketing-contract-legal-to-prepare-draft-for-next-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636178-2e8620317d5ffc0d9a7650ae7059bf3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140041&Signature=d8Fdwi-2M7XaNJyg5Si1Pwh-GJI93B7TipqSot8YcEPgcaO4dyICOBpb931hk~dwJy6dOP-mboCjwl3srObIDjITFEr8ay5PGgakr1Y8GkW0OnOuqyvSVSdxPHqOqGNAGDm~2r6ArQdFPyNRs5ZjzAxra3E4HJt8Xo6nCBLfePKxYScgc-WW6JpEdelGIt3KYzSfQZ~CBvwt1wQAJdGo13kGuKpg4Dsp-I8HQwj8CzeocKQVYuf1mTQm~-XQI4zg1AIXdI382wzDC9hiSn-GP4-IMZKTtMMq~LYYBFLdUGEd0eXYxKjC9a0IQu3t0e6GMWis4WTy1EX7pDsC34MIrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections on March 13 deferred a decision on renewing a marketing and public relations contract with Profile Marketing & Public Relations and asked the county attorney to prepare a draft contract for review at the board's next meeting.

Director Smith described an updated scope of services the department seeks from the firm to support communications for precinct and polling-place changes, voter outreach, and website updates. Staff said the department is building in-house communications capacity but still needs outside expertise for targeted campaigns, branding, and some printing and signage work.

Deputy Director of Communications Tonza (identified in the meeting transcript as the division director) said the new scope places more emphasis on strategic planning, branding consistency, and making signage \"reader friendly.\" Tonza told the board the firm would consult with an in-house team that is still being developed.

Board members raised governance questions about the review process for contracts above the board's delegated threshold. Several members said they preferred to see a written contract before approving a renewal; one board member pointed to a standing limit on executive authority for contracts under $50,000 and noted that the proposed scope implied an annual cost that would exceed that amount.

County Attorney Terry Phillips told the board the law office would prepare a contract \"in a form that we can approve to your vendor no less than the end of this month\" so board members would have a draft to review before the next meeting. Phillips noted the only variable would be the vendor's response and that procurement had been managing earlier steps in the process.

Board members also noted the department has worked with the vendor for multiple years. Director Smith said procurement initiated the renewal in November to avoid gaps in services; staff have continued to work with the vendor in the interim to support current communications needs.

After discussion, a motion to defer consideration passed on a unanimous voice vote. Staff said if urgent work requires payment before the board acts, the department may engage the vendor and later return to the board to ratify the expenditures.

Votes at a glance
- Motion: Defer approval of the contract pending submission of a draft agreement prepared by legal counsel. Outcome: deferred (unanimous).

Context and next steps
The board's deferral directs the county attorney to prepare and submit a draft contract for review prior to the next board meeting; staff said they prefer to have an executed contract to formalize ongoing communications work but will seek ratification if emergency work proceeds before approval.","The Board of Registration and Elections deferred action March 13 on a proposed contract with Profile Marketing & Public Relations after members asked the county attorney to produce a final draft for review; staff said the vendor has been supporting communications and that a contract is needed promptly to formalize ongoing work.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6636182,"DeKalb board approves temporary polling-place moves while schools renovate",253,3011000,3264000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615927-f4c46fd989f870bee55db172c011e32a&start=3011&end=3264","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615927-f4c46fd989f870bee55db172c011e32a/thumbnail_3011000.jpg","/articles/6636182/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-board-approves-temporary-polling-place-moves-while-schools-renovate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6636182-d1d9978bcef1524b39201bfa1b04d274/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140041&Signature=BPUG-vnC5LRw0lwbA1fhk1pMej8kU33yqdDOFdjtkyNX~~8n433Pj4hIlNnFGE9g5~dMdmQONlQSeERquo7csvB1fDn5t5wbWTsT8RvgBukuxZKRZDphsgk6V4h3KkxgDWd1G9xfwVytPuOsdbqfNvgHL8P6PNRdrd1WpD1mvtUYtD36TKdodaTGS4YAFe~xTRqb4kiOfoQyppqSEj0fcPzMP-FIOwntnU5qtmngAsWqjutCmDZFwV2dnfd8ceIcAlKV5RgQHNKdnkdwrLO~bijwo26JB1KACMo-zbnlMfc8WE6koAA2LyYjMnfalA0VI4weS8aU7kjR83-7LbIC-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections voted unanimously March 13 to approve temporary changes to several polling places after county staff said the schools that host those locations will undergo summer renovations.

Director Smith, the board's executive director, told members the moves are temporary while schools complete work and that Dresden Elementary will be taken off the list permanently because the building is being torn down; its precinct would temporarily move to John Robert Lewis Elementary School while staff identify a permanent replacement. The board also published the first legal notice of the changes the same day and said the second notice will run next week to comply with legal requirements.

The changes affect multiple precincts listed in the board packet and are driven by scheduled summer renovation work at the affected schools. \"These are temporary moves; Dresden Elementary is being torn down and will be permanently removed from our complement of sites,\" Director Smith said during the meeting.

Board member Susan Mater cautioned the public to pay attention to precinct codes rather than only the precinct names, saying longstanding naming quirks cause confusion. \"What we all need to pay attention to is the precinct code and the address for holding the election,\" Mater said. She noted the board must work with the county Board of Commissioners to change precinct names, which is why names and addresses do not always update immediately.

The motion to approve the proposed polling-place changes, as presented by the executive director, was made, seconded and passed on a unanimous voice vote. The board counted all members present in favor.

Staff said they had notified affected poll managers and are checking alternate poll officials and locations as part of election preparations. A map of proposed temporary locations was included in the meeting packet published before the vote.

The board did not take additional action beyond approving the temporary changes; staff said they will return to the board if further modifications or permanent site selections are required.

Votes at a glance
- Motion: \"Approve the proposed polling place changes as specified by the executive director.\" Outcome: approved unanimously.

Context and next steps
The board's action ensures continuity of polling services for the upcoming election cycle while staff completes outreach and legal notices. Staff said communications about the changes — including legal notices and press releases — will continue so voters know the correct address and precinct code for their polling site.","The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections voted unanimously March 13 to approve temporary polling-place changes driven by summer school renovations, removing one site permanently while planning follow-up work on precinct names and permanent locations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Elections director: DeKalb has 598,038 registered voters; backlog mostly cleared for 2025, mobile voting unit planned for 2026; challenger hearing set

DeKalb board approves early-voting plan and locations for June special election

DeKalb board defers renewal of marketing contract; legal to prepare draft for next meeting

DeKalb board approves temporary polling-place moves while schools renovate