Residents urge caution on precinct consolidation, call for clearer signage and better accessibility

During public comment several residents and organization representatives praised elections staff for smooth administration but urged the board to consider voter access and community outreach before larger consolidation moves.

Janet Rau told the board she appreciated volunteers who directed voters at an early‑voting location on Election Day and said those volunteers redirected "approximately 30 people" who otherwise would have been displaced when a site was not open. "I would encourage the Board to continue to do that when we have special elections," she said.

Ben Williams, president emeritus of the Cobb County branch of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, spoke in favor of consolidation if it is done in a way that builds community and preserves outreach. "We've gotta do something to now let those folks who are now being aggregated together understand that they are a voting community," Williams said, and offered his group's assistance to educate voters.

Monica Brown, who said she represents the Cobb County Democracy Center, urged the board to avoid consolidating precincts such that single polling locations would be expected to serve many thousands of voters. "We have precincts that have as many as 6,000, almost 7,000 voters... being mindful of those numbers of voters so that we're not eliminating too many precincts," Brown said.

Rosser Sutherland described an accessibility problem at Bridgepointe Church in Marietta: the usual entrance was locked and signage still pointed people to it, forcing some voters to "walk around into the street through the grass" to reach the side door and the machines. He said a pregnant woman and a voter using a walker had to navigate the difficult route.

Beth Hendrickson thanked the board and staff for smooth recent elections and urged caution in timing and scope of consolidations, noting state legislative proposals could change advanced in‑person and no‑excuse absentee voting and so might increase election‑day precinct demand.

Amanda Robinson and other speakers praised Director Fall and staff for election professionalism and for maintaining accessibility. Commenters consistently asked for clear signage at changed sites, advance notice to voters, and community outreach to explain new precinct boundaries or co‑locations.

Board members acknowledged the public comments during the public hearing and asked staff to include signage, parking and accessibility checks as they finalize co‑locations and relocations.