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DeKalb elections director recommends sites; board votes to add a weekend of early voting for April runoff
Summary
After reviewing registration totals and staffing data, the elections director recommended three early‑voting locations for the April 7 special runoff. The board debated weekend hours and unanimously authorized a Saturday and Sunday of early voting (March 28–29) in addition to the weekday schedule.
The DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections approved a staff recommendation for early‑voting locations and unanimously added one weekend to the schedule for the April 7 special election runoff.
Director Smith told the board that countywide registration stands at 565,322 registered voters, with 489,666 active and 75,656 inactive registrants. She said staff recommends the same three locations used previously — Memorial Drive, Reed Anstrati Library and New Bethel AME Church — with Monday through Thursday hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the limited special election period.
Board members raised the possibility of adding weekend hours. Smith said staff typically saw very low turnout on some weekend days and noted the cost per voter at one location during a low‑use week was approximately $460. She explained that because turnout and staffing vary, staff initially did not propose weekend hours "but it's at the board's pleasure" to add them.
After discussion, a board member offered a friendly amendment to include Saturday and Sunday voting, proposing Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 29 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and a motion to approve those dates (March 28 through April 2 with the office determining Saturday hours) was moved, seconded and passed unanimously.
The board's action sets early‑voting locations and adds a weekend of access for voters in the House District 94 special runoff.
What happens next: The elections office will publish the final early‑voting schedule and staffing plan ahead of the March 28 weekend openings.
