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Cobb County elections board adopts narrower precertification document-review policy after debate
Summary
After debate over which precinct documents board members may review, the Cobb County Board of Elections approved a policy that follows recent State Election Board guidance and court rulings, limiting review to specified precinct records; vote passed with two in favor, one abstention and two members absent.
The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration voted to approve a policy spelling out what documents board members may review before certification, a move the board's counsel said brings local practice into alignment with State Election Board rules and recent Georgia Supreme Court decisions.
Daniel White, the board's attorney, presented the draft policy and said it reiterates the four-step review process in SEB Rule 183-1-12 and narrows review to documents tied to a precinct when total votes raise questions about totals. "These are my recommendations," White said, describing the legal basis and the list of documents staff would provide for precertification review.
The draft lists, among others, the statement of votes cast by precinct (unofficial), the numbered list of voters for Election Day, absentee-by-mail reports and advanced in-person (AIP) voter reports. White also recommended that materials covered by OCGA 21-2-500 remain under seal or be kept in the Elections Office rather than leaving with board members.
Board member Debbie Fisher pressed for precise language referencing the Georgia Supreme Court and proposed changes clarifying when members may request additional reports. "I do highly recommend we add my language because it holds with what the actual verbiage was in the ruling," Fisher said, arguing the policy should reflect the court's specific findings.
White and other members debated whether to use the term "invalidated" rather than "overturned" when describing the status of a prior rule, and discussed practical matters such as whether documents should be requested in writing. The attorney suggested adding a sentence that such documents may be requested "by written request submitted to the director" and provided with a copy to the full board.
After discussion and a proposed amendment to incorporate board feedback, the chair called for a vote. The chair announced the policy passed with two votes in favor, one abstention and two members absent.
The policy is intended to standardize precertification practices in Cobb County and to limit board document review to materials necessary to reconcile precinct-level discrepancies before certification. The board also noted members may ask for additional reports through the written request process described in the adopted language.
