Cherokee County elections board rejects pre-certification hand count, approves runoff schedule and staffing plans

The Cherokee County Board of Elections on Monday voted down a motion for a pre-certification hand count of ballots, 4-1, and moved forward with a schedule of logistics and outreach for an upcoming Sept. 23 runoff election.

The motion for a pre-certification hand count was introduced during new business and defeated after discussion about staff workload, recent audits and timing with other elections. “It would just be a good time to confirm with Democratic voters that we care about their election,” said John, a board member who made the motion. Julie, another board member, said the board had already conducted recent post-certification audits with no discrepancies and raised concerns about staff capacity while the office prepares for multiple simultaneous elections.

The board’s decision came amid a longer Director’s Report outlining election preparations. The elections director said logic-and-accuracy testing for equipment began the day of the meeting and that equipment delivery is scheduled for the Monday before the election, with early voting at the Elections Office and the Buzz beginning the Saturday before the runoff. “I truly feel like our only solution is to have another early voting location in Canton to take off some of the congestion,” the elections director said, describing continuing efforts to secure an additional Canton-area drop-off and early-voting site.

Why it matters: The board’s rejection of a pre-certification hand count preserves staff time and resources ahead of back-to-back election duties, while the director’s schedule and outreach plan aim to reduce voter wait times and assist voters in assisted-living…