DeKalb BRE approves temporary polling-place moves for June 17 election

The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections on a special call approved two emergency polling-place changes for Election Day on June 17, temporarily relocating voters because construction made their usual school polling places unavailable.

The change combines the Henderson Mill and Midvale Road precincts to vote at Warren Technical School, and moves Toney Elementary voters to Kelly Lake Elementary for the June 17 election only, the board said.

The moves matter because they alter where regular voters must go on Election Day and require targeted outreach before June 17. Board staff told members they prepared mailed notices for impacted voters and will place signage at the usual sites to direct people to the temporary locations.

Board Chair (name not specified) opened the meeting saying the special call was necessary under Georgia law after “unfortunate circumstances that have rendered 2 polling locations unavailable for the June” election. The board then asked the executive director (name not specified) to explain the proposed temporary changes.

The executive director said packets provided to the board list the two temporary changes and include a notice to be sent to impacted voters if the board approves. On one item, she said, “Henderson Mill Elementary is no longer available for this PSC race. Midvale Road and Henderson Mill … will be relocated to Warren Tech,” adding that Warren Tech already hosts an additional precinct and will temporarily host both precincts together.

Board member Susan Motter urged careful public communication about the Henderson Mill change, noting two distinct precinct footprints: “I want folks to pay attention to the footprint of Henderson Mill which is HC and the footprint of Midvale Road, which is MW, those are 2 separate precincts which ordinarily vote at Henderson Mill.” Motter asked staff not to use loose language that could lead voters to assume only “Henderson Mill” changed when two precincts are affected.

Motter also noted signage and mailed letters would help voters: “Signage will be there at Henderson Mill Elementary to direct folks to the right place, which is Warren Technical School,” she said. "You'll notice in the agenda package there's a letter that it will be sent to affected voters and I promise this time that's all I have."

Miss Smith (elections staff) told the board the letters were prepared over the weekend and would be delivered to the post office for distribution to impacted voters the same day the board voted.

Public commenters raised access and communication concerns. Quatisha Lundy said she had difficulty using advanced (early) voting: “I wanted to know, why is it that certain people are elected to go to the advanced voting, but we're not? Because I've tried to go to the advanced voting, but I wasn't able to do so. I've tried 3 times 3 times I mean, I'm sorry, over 9 times.” The board declined to answer questions during public comment but offered to have staff assist Lundy after the meeting.

Ida Davis, a resident who said she lives near Bouldercrest, questioned why nearby McNair School was not available and said she had to travel to Beulah to vote: “Why do I have to go all the way around to Beulah to vote like I can go up the street?” Board members said staff would follow up with her after the meeting.

An online commenter, Judy Snafalopoulos of Briarcliff Road, thanked the board and offered to help distribute information about the special primary and the emergency polling-place changes.

On a motion by Susan Motter, second not recorded in the transcript, the board adopted the emergency polling-place changes by voice vote. The meeting record does not include a roll-call tally; the board declared the motion approved. The board recorded that the relocations apply to June 17 only and that staff would send the prepared notices to impacted voters and place signage at affected former sites.

Board members and staff emphasized the temporary nature of the moves and said they are working with DeKalb County school administration to ensure eligible voters can vote at the temporary sites. Members who spoke thanked school representatives for attending and reiterated that staff would be available after the meeting to answer individual questions.

The board also reviewed its public-comment rules for the meeting: written submissions must be one printed page or less in 12-point font and received between 35 and 5 minutes before the scheduled start, and in-person comments are limited to two minutes. Officials warned that abusive or disruptive conduct at public comment would not be permitted but that quiet demonstrations such as raising hands were allowed.

The meeting adjourned after the vote.