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DeKalb elections director reports readiness for Nov. 4; board approves poll managers and sets pre-certification meeting
Summary
Director Smith reported updated registration counts, processing of SOS registrations and logistics for Nov. 4; the board approved the Nov. 4 poll manager list, discussed budget and scheduled a pre-certification meeting for Nov. 7 (proposed 9:30 a.m.).
The DeKalb County elections office told the Board of Registration and Elections on Oct. 9 that it is on track for the Nov. 4 municipal election but asked the board to confirm a few logistical items in the coming weeks.
Director Smith provided registration statistics and processing updates. As of Oct. 7 there were 565,142 registered voters in DeKalb County (498,274 active; 66,868 inactive). She updated the board the morning of Oct. 9, saying the county’s total had risen to 565,384 registered voters (498,581 active; 66,803 inactive) after receiving a box of roughly 450 additional registrations from the secretary of state’s office; staff said those would be processed by the following day. Director Smith also reported year-to-date manual cancellations of 2,227 registrations.
Staff said ballot proofing was complete, candidates were given 24 hours to request changes, and logic and accuracy testing began the prior Monday and will continue through Nov. 1. Absentee ballots received to date were 676 and will be mailed beginning Oct. 14, the first permissible day for absentee mailings and the start of early voting.
On the budget, Smith said the department remains within its approved budget and anticipates larger post-election expenses — including poll worker salaries, temporary employees and equipment purchases — which were included in current projections. When board members asked about a large “other professional services” line, Smith said it covers consultants and contracted services such as movers (identified as Atlanta Peach Movers) and is intended as contingency if internal capacity is insufficient.
The board approved the list of election-day poll managers for Nov. 4 following a motion and second and a voice vote. Members discussed higher turnover in poll workers since the primary and noted the board no longer collects party affiliation on applications.
The board also scheduled the required precertification meeting to occur before certification deadlines; Director Smith proposed Friday, Nov. 7 at 9:30 a.m., subject to confirmation of staff and room availability. She explained the precertification meeting presents precinct-level data showing unique voter counts matched to ballots cast; the data are preliminary and final certification occurs the following week after canvassing.
No executive session was requested. The board adjourned at the close of the meeting.
