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Residents urge clearer early voting access and caution on hand‑marked ballot pilots
Summary
During public comment, residents pressed the board for clearer early-voting site information in some cities, raised concerns about removal of drop boxes, and asked the board not to volunteer DeKalb for last‑minute pilots of hand‑marked paper ballots ahead of the November election.
Multiple residents used the board’s public comment period to press officials on early-voting access, drop‑box removal and election administration choices ahead of November.
Cheryl Dudley said some cities, including Stone Mountain and Clarkston, lack nearby early-voting locations and asked the board to publish where early voting sites will be on Nov. 4. "It's gonna need to be all of our superpowers if the restrictions keep coming," she said. Michael Beach, an assistant poll manager in Decatur, urged the county not to volunteer to pilot hand‑marked paper ballots this year because poll worker training is already starting; he warned that last-minute changes can create confusion and retraining burdens. Janet Grant, an area poll manager, also urged the board to avoid a hand‑marked pilot in DeKalb ahead of November and cited the need for a thorough, nonpartisan cost‑benefit analysis before implementation of SB189's QR-code elimination provision effective 07/01/2026.
Speakers emphasized practical election operations: requests for consistent absentee‑ballot drop‑off locations and signage if the Memorial Drive drop box is removed; calls for soundproofing training areas; and reminders that list maintenance does not equal ineligibility. Board members thanked commenters and said public vigilance on candidate qualifications and registration accuracy is important.
