Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Cobb County elections board certifies PSC primary results amid low turnout and data-synchronization questions
Loading...
Summary
The Cobb County Board of Elections certified results of the Public Service Commission primary and heard staff report a statewide sync issue between voter management systems; turnout was low and a risk-limiting audit is scheduled.
The Cobb County Board of Elections on Thursday certified the results of the June 17 Public Service Commission primary and accepted a director’s report showing 15,873 total ballots cast in the county, a turnout the director described as “just over 3%.”
The certification came at the board’s regular and certification meeting, where Director Fall presented a post-election breakdown: 3,856 early in-person votes, 193 absentee-by-mail ballots counted and 11,791 election-day ballots. "We had 3,856 total voters vote early," Director Fall said during the presentation.
The certification follows concerns staff raised about a data synchronization issue between county poll pads and the state systems Jarvis and DDS. Director Fall told the board that one precinct accessed an emergency list after opening late and that the office “alerted the secretary of state as soon as we realized on election day that there was an inconsistency.” The secretary of state has acknowledged receiving other reports and is investigating, Fall said. Fall also said the early in-person (AIP) figures matched the county’s ePulse reports.
Public comment at the meeting emphasized frustration with public outreach. Monica Rossman, a member of the public, told the board she and others “didn’t know there was even an election going on” and called the low turnout “pathetic,” adding she planned to request cost records to assess taxpayer expense.
The board also confirmed that a risk-limiting audit is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the elections office; the audit is open to party observers and the public. After discussion, the board moved to certify the PSC primary results; the motion passed unanimously, 4-0, with one member absent.
Board members and staff noted follow-up items: the county will await the secretary of state’s findings on the Jarvis/DDS sync issue, and staff said they will provide requested election-files and clarity for provisional-credited ballots ahead of the upcoming runoff.
Looking ahead, Director Fall told the board preparations are underway for the July 15 runoff, including absentee-by-mail deadlines and mailings, and staff said registration will resume post-runoff work such as Marietta ward redistricting and other administrative tasks.
The meeting adjourned after routine business and a move into executive session for litigation and personnel matters.
