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State Election Board authorizes observation pilot for county 'drop bags' and requests county procedures
Summary
After discussion about nightly 'drop bag' handling in several counties, the board authorized Executive Director Mills to form an observation program and contract observers to review chain of custody; Mills estimated a two‑county pilot could cost about $77,500.
The Georgia State Election Board on May 1 authorized a program to observe how certain counties are handling so‑called "drop bags" for absentee ballots and to collect county procedures for review.
Member Grubbs asked the board to add a discussion of drop bags to the agenda and described reports that Fulton and other counties had begun using nightly drop‑bag procedures. Executive Director Mills said the board did not know whether counties had written procedures and proposed an observation program to spot‑check chain of custody at early voting sites and hubs.
"If you would allow me to put together a program, I could just spot pick," Mills said, describing an observation team with training and a clipboard log to record pick‑up and drop‑off times and chain‑of‑custody steps. He estimated a small pilot in Fulton and Gwinnett using eight people could cost approximately $77,500 and said the board has that money available now.
Member Grubbs moved that the executive director be authorized to implement a contract to observe drop‑bag and drop‑box chain of custody in counties where they are in use; Member King seconded. The motion carried by voice vote (recorded as 4–0 in the transcript). Members said the program would not impose procedures on counties but would collect policies and report findings to the board.
Why it matters: Several counties have adopted practices to receive absentee ballots outside traditional postal routes and the board said it needs better information about written procedures, adherence to chain‑of‑custody safeguards, and whether uniform rules or guidance are needed.
Next steps: Executive Director Mills will draft the observation plan and contract language, train observers, and return findings to the board; the chair also proposed requesting written drop‑bag procedures from counties (Gwinnett, Fulton, Cobb and others) and inviting county officials to the June meeting for discussion.
