DeKalb elections office reports shrinking registration backlog, outlines NGE and no-contact mailer timetable

Executive Director Smith told the DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections on Aug. 14 that the office has reduced a voter-registration backlog and is processing mailings from the state that could change elector status ahead of the November municipal elections.

"As far as voter registration numbers, the registered voters as of August 8 totaled 601,743. Of those, active numbers were 506,671," Executive Director Smith said, and then provided an updated tally: "As of this morning, August 14, the total number of registered voters in DeKalb County totaled 603,036. The total number of active registered voters totaled 508,376." She said inactive registrants numbered 94,660 as of Aug. 14.

The numbers matter because of the state's list-maintenance processes. Smith told the board that the Secretary of State mailed two types of notices this summer: NGE (no-general-election) mailings on July 10 and no-contact mailers on July 22. "It's less than 10% of our registered voter population, but 58,000 is a substantial amount," she said, referring to the county's run of mailings handled by the state's vendor.

Staff described the backlog and how they are addressing it. Registration Supervisor Holly Smith said the office had an initial backlog of about 28,000 applications after a May 20 surge and has reduced it…