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Cobb County elections board votes 3–1 to accept weekend hand-delivered absentee ballots
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Summary
The board voted to accept hand-delivered absentee-by-mail ballots at the elections office the weekend between advance in-person voting and election day (Sat–Mon), specifying hours; the measure passed 3–1 amid debate over chain-of-custody procedures.
The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration voted to accept hand-delivered absentee-by-mail ballots at the elections office on the weekend between the close of advance in-person voting and election day and specified office hours for that acceptance.
A board member recalled that the office had accepted hand-delivered absentee ballots during the 2024 presidential election and proposed mirroring weekend office hours to improve voter access. Michael, representing elections staff, said the office could staff the front desk and have absentee staff log deliveries; he summarized prior practice and proposed hours for the upcoming schedule.
Debate centered on chain-of-custody procedures. One board member warned that accepting ballots at AIP locations that lack drop boxes risks losing a reliable record of who handled ballots: “there needs to be a daily chain of custody of what was received,” the board member said. Another member referenced litigation in other jurisdictions and the need for affidavits and stamped records in prior cases. Michael and others said the office could assign absentee staff and maintain logs; the board directed staff to produce a formalized procedure and to revise the Absentee Voting webpage to list hand-delivery hours and clarify drop-box cutoffs.
A motion to accept hand-delivered absentee-by-mail ballots at the elections office for Saturday, May 16 (9 a.m.–5 p.m.), Sunday, May 17 (12 p.m.–5 p.m.) and Monday, May 18 (8 a.m.–5 p.m.) passed by recorded margin 3–1; the transcript records 'Debbie' as the dissenting vote. Board members said they would document the decision to reduce ambiguity ahead of the election and that staff will publicize the hours and chain-of-custody procedures.
The related question of allowing hand delivery at advance-in-person locations without drop boxes was discussed but tabled to the board’s May 26 meeting so staff can draft training and custody procedures.
