Elections staff propose tiered advanced-voting template; board asks for more analysis before vote

Elections Director Long put forward a tiered advanced-voting schedule intended to balance statutory compliance, operational flexibility and voter access. The framework outlines four models — a full-access model for high-turnout general elections, an additional-access model for moderately sized ballots, a compliance/minimum model for special elections and a runoff model — each tied to a recommended number of sites, weekday hours, required Saturday service and optional Sunday voting.

The template includes staffing and cost estimates for each model so the office can plan ahead and present concrete budgetary needs to the mayor and commission. Director Long told the board the models are meant as planning tools that will let staff contact potential site hosts and start poll-worker recruitment and training earlier. "This approach will ensure that you're compliant with the Georgia law, and we will provide consistency across election cycles," Director Long said.

Board members praised the planning effort but cautioned they needed more time and detail before taking a formal vote. Several members asked staff to define what "full access" would mean in practice (how many sites and which locations) and to provide cost comparisons for fewer locations with longer hours versus more sites with standard hours. One board member asked staff to produce staffing cost estimates for an example four-site full-access model so the board could see a tangible trade-off. Staff and board agreed to hold a special work session in early August to run numbers and consult county mapping resources before returning to the regular August meeting with a refined, more detailed proposal.