Good afternoon and welcome to today's um Board of Registration and Elections regularly scheduled meeting.

Can I get the roll call, please?

No board members.

When I call your name, please respond by saying here.

Vasu, Abby Rahman.

Here.

Travis Bowden.

Here.

Gail Lee here.

DeLay Loman.

Here.

Carly Swift.

Here.

Madam Chair, we have a quorum.

Thank you.

Can I get a motion to approve the agenda?

So moved.

Second.

And uh all in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

And um, can I get a motion to approve the February 12th and February 16th minutes?

If there are no changes, we can approve them in one motion.

So moved.

Second.

Second.

Can I just note that it's the March?

It's March.

March.

Yeah.

Thank you.

So the motion is to approve the March 12th.

If I may, I'd like to amend my motion to approve these minutes for March 12th and March 16th, 2026.

Okay.

And just to confirm, those are the correct dates.

The actual day.

Okay.

All right.

So we have a motion.

Was it seconded?

Second.

Okay.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Okay.

We are ready for public comment.

Public comments may be made in person or by submitting an email of one printed page or list in a minimum font of 12 to elections public CCMT at DeCab County GA.gov, which must be received 35 and five minutes to five minutes before the schedule start of the meeting.

The body of your email must include your first and last name by submitting an email for public comment.

You agree to have your name and email broadcast on Ustream and entered into the record in minutes.

The DeCab Board of Registration and Elections reserves the right at the board's sole discretion to add your email to the record or minutes without reading any of it into the broadcast, or read a all or a portion into the of the email into the records or minutes.

All public comments will be limited to two minutes.

Abusive, profane, or derogatory language, holding up signs, clapping, yelling, standing, laying in the aisles to show support or opposition for a speaker will not be permitted, but a show of hands or quiet standing in place will be permitted to show your support or opposition for a speaker's position.

Thank you.

Janet Grant.

Thank you.

My name's Janet Grant, and I'm a resident of Decatur and serve as an area poll manager responsible for the election day polls in the city of Decatur.

I've been tracking the election-related bills in the Georgia General Assembly this legislative session and was very disappointed that they took no action to address the QR code requirement in Senate Bill 189 that passed in 2024.

There are now various calls to action, including asking the governor to order a special session and petitions to the state election board to implement changes.

It would have transitioned us to the use of handmark paper ballots with on-demand ballot printers to ensure that each voter gets the correct ballot, as is automated today with our current voting cards and ballot marking devices.

While I know this board is not a decision-making position on these issues, I strongly encourage you to weigh in directly and through Gavriel.

DeCAB is one of the largest counties and would be the most negatively impacted by irrespens irresponsible potential actions on this issue.

And I'm the current chair of the DeCab Republican Party.

We are in a big fickle pickle.

The Georgia legislature adjourned without addressing the July 1st, 2026 prohibition on using QR codes to tabulate votes.

And of course, our current system relies on these QR codes, which of course creates a serious compliance issue after that date.

So for the November 2026 general election, the QR code system is not possible or practical per OCGA 21-2-334.

The simple solution would be to activate the backup paper ballot procedures under OCGA 212 281 and rules 183-1-12.

And then given systemic scanner error and misfeed issues, we should probably do a full hand count at the precinct level before certification per 21-2-437 using secure handmark paper ballots with post-election audits.

So I urge the board, our wonderful executive director, Keisha Smith, and all concerned decabians, such as you folks, to attend the state election board meeting this Wednesday, April 15th at 9 a.m.

in Dawsonville to push for immediate action to address this conundrum.

Thank you so much for your time and service to secure elections.

Michael Beach.

Thanks.

I'm Michael Beach, poll manager here in DeCab County.

We need Gavrio's voice to bring reason to this because our legislature just left us in a huge mess.

They had ways to fix this, and they decided to just not do anything and not vote anything forward.

So we need you to speak up and do that.

I would push for 214 to be passed, but the legislature has to agree to that.

I think the emergency ballot issue, at least from what I've been told, is an issue because the current scanners aren't upgraded to be able to scan those.

And so all of a sudden you have all of these ballots that now we're going to be transporting these with no zero tapes and everything.

Doesn't sound very secure to me.

Sounds less secure.

So please bring yours and Gabriel's voice to this and try and wrench some reason out of our legislature.

Thank you so much.

Betsy Jacqueline.

As has been said, the mess that the legislature left behind will impact the whole state.

As I understand it, it's our Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, he of the governor's race, who is blocked who blocked the progress of SB 214, which, as everyone has stated so far, would have solved this issue beautifully.

Apparently, Jones's campaign thinks that if he supported it and solved the SB 189 deadline problem pragmatically, it would prevent him from getting elected.

As long as this is unsolved, the deck is stacked toward chaos for the fall midterms, which is what the MAGA community wants.

It would be great if legislators actually worked the polls or spent an entire day and night observing to understand how difficult it is to properly comply with all the arcane rules, especially those around provisional voting, which needs to be rethought.

In other news, huge kudos to the department for the very best poll worker training ever, ever this year, head and shoulders above anything prior.

It allows those of us who work the polls to feel more confident and hopefully will result in fewer errors.

Having the online excellent training available to refer to in the time before the election is terrific.

Thank you.

Bethane Fruman.

Thank you.

Um I know that when we voted for the runoff locations in February, we didn't talk about dates.

Um, and it's getting close.

We have a half a dozen races that are almost surely to have a countywide runoff election, and we can't communicate the dates for that.

So I would just urge the board at the earliest possibility, which may not be possible today, um, to vote on um the dates for the runoff that we will have early voting and um at the very latest the pre-certification meeting, um, so that we can just communicate with people and hopefully um you know get people out to vote.

Thanks.

Thank you, everyone who commented today.

That concludes our public comments.

We're going to move into items for decision, certification of the district 94 special election runoff.

Director Smith.

Thank you, and good afternoon, everyone.

Um, if you will turn to your packets, um turn to page, well, 10 is where I'm gonna start, but with the post-election report that I will share before um presenting the election summary report.

So uh this um post election report is for the April 7th special election runoff, and as um displayed on slide 11.

There were 18,047 registered voters active for this district um at the time of this snapshot, and 1,050 ballots were cast, which was an overall turnout of 5.82 percent.

On election day, 773 ballots were cast, early voting uh cast 269, absentee by mill or an additional eight.

On slide 12, you will see that the breakdown there, um, early voting, and those are just the numbers for each location and for that week um and the weekend voting.

New Bethel AMB church was the most popular early voting location.

It's near the you know, in that district.

Line 13, you will see that absentee ballots accepted, um, were eight.

That's how many we received for this race, this contest on slide 14.

We'll uh look at the absentee by mail, the provisional absentee ballots.

There were uh two missing date of births, one cured provisional, um rejected, there were zero.

Fifteen, uh, you'll see the election day uh display, which shows the six locations that were open.

Winbrook Elementary School was the most popular election day uh polling place for that race.

The next slide contains the uh polling uh election day precinct, six polling places, six.

Uh there were twenty-six poll workers working, uh the equipment that was deployed, tested and deployed, uh totaled 18 poll pads, 30 touch screens, and 12 scanners for this race.

Election day provisionals, there was one out of precinct, which was rejected.

Okay, and as always, I just want to thank our staff, our poll workers, um, and our uh community partners and the board, our um county partners as well for working with us to ensure another uh safe, uh transparent and accurate election and overall success.

So for the board's consideration, before you on page 20, you will see the election summary report for the general election summary of all contests, which includes the state House 94 election, unofficial and incomplete results for your um consideration and certification today.

Thank you, Director Smith.

Um are there any questions?

Okay.

Uh Ms.

Roberoman.

It's a quick question.

Um one out of precinct ballot.

I'm curious what the reason for rejection was.

Was this one received before?

The out of precinct.

It wasn't, they just were not in that district.

So it what they weren't eligible to vote.

Okay.

Yeah.

That's all for me.

Okay.

Um so just for the public's uh information, after we certify, we're gonna take a short break so that we can actually sign the certification documentation that has to go to the city um by a certain time today, which is why we're meeting in the afternoon as opposed to our normal time.

So with that, I'd ask for a motion to certify.

So moved.

Second.

Okay, all in favor?

Aye.

And then can I get a motion to adjourn?

So moved.

Oh no, sorry, Teresa.

Sorry.

I amend my motion to um uh uh to take a recess.

So second.

Okay.

All in favor?

I thank you.

So we will take a five minute recess.

Thank you.

Can I get a motion to enter back into motion to resume regular order?

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

I great.

All right.

So next up, we're still in items for decision.

Um we have uh the profile PR agreement, Director Smith.

So on page twenty-one, you will find the um agreement for professional services, um, which is our uh public relations and communications.

We uh in uh collaboration with the county's purchasing um department um issued a an intent to bid an ITB.

Um they went through the process uh earlier last year.

Um they went through the process uh earlier last year, I think it started last year, um, and received several um bids, and I believe how many were I forgot how many were um responsive, was it six?

It was six originally, and I think when they went through the entire process, um there were two that met all of the qualifications, and so with that um profile marketing uh was um selected the selected uh vendor for these services, and so here you have the agreement in draft form, and what I'm asking today is for the board to give authorization for the executive director to enter into an agreement with profile in a form that is um approved by the county attorney.

Thank you.

Um so questions I'll start with Ms.

Lawman and we can work our way around.

No questions, just um drawing folks' attention to page I think it's 32 of the packet and 12 of the document that um shows the deliverables in case um people have questions about that.

It's pretty clear and straightforward what we're getting.

Thank you.

Mr.

Bowden.

Um page 22.

There's a there's language I like to ask about.

Um it shows a total amount not to exceed $64,000 and no cents.

And so that I am clear on that, that means that this amount can't, and forgive me for parsing, cannot exceed $64,000.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

So this contract or agreement will um at the take us through December 31st and it begins on May 1st.

So that is $8,000 per month for that number of months.

And my other question is, and again, I will parse um this is a consulting arrangement, not uh employment.

This is so there's no retirement benefits, there's no health benefits, this is just a flat consultant fee.

That's correct.

Not to see $64,000.

That's correct.

Okay, thank you.

Ms.

Lee.

Okay.

Um the other quotes that were given or bids, were they roughly in the same ballpark financially?

So I believe that the second uh well the what the two that were um responsive and uh made it to the final round were they varied in um estimates or the cost that they provided.

However, they also varied in the um quality and capabilities.

Um the other vendor uh was more we found in our research and with the procurement department um more of a product um company um with no experience in uh that we found or that they uh reported um in elections or media any in the scope so that you know that was outlined.

So even though we were told that they met the qualifications for the research indicated that they really did not um and I don't think that they would have well I know that they would not have met the needs of the department um in this uh gubernatorial and midterm election year.

And I know you used this firm last year, were we satisfied with the services?

Yes, and actually this firm um I inherited this firm, so they were with the county in 2020, I believe since 2020.

So not only do they know you know the work of this department, but they're familiar with um the county um processes and they have the relationships with the media, not just local but national um as well.

Okay.

So yes, we were we were very satisfied with we have been very satisfied with the work their product.

And um in the first three months of the year, uh did you use any of their services?

I know the contract ended on December 31st.

Yes, and what we did was actually um before the contract ended last year when we began this process, um, we were recommended uh to extend the contract that we had with them last year for continuity of services, and so we went before the board of commissioners for that.

And so we went before the Board of Commissioners for that.

And since it was under the $50,000 threshold that I'm allowed to sign off on, I we didn't bring that before the board, but because this is over 50,000, the extra cover that the board provides me is the review of anything that you know I need to execute on the behalf of the board.

And so they continue to work with us for the first few months of this year.

Assuming the same 8,000 a month, or were they paid?

Was that the I believe it was the same amount?

Yes, it was the same amount.

Okay.

And okay, what they said on exhibit A is the message the they have messaging to engage underserved and underrepresented communities.

We mean I didn't see anything that leans to the right.

And I think it is imperative that we when we're doing messages to underrepresented communities, which in DeCab County is conservative.

So I just encourage you to oversee that when you're talking media with them.

Is that this agreement that you're looking at?

The exhibit A.

I'm looking for that link.

Down there at the bottom three.

Okay.

Yep.

Thank you.

Down there.

Yeah, page 31.

Second floor under nine.

Exhibit A.

It's on the other side of the deliberate page.

But I think we wanted to report.

It's a messaging integrate creatively responsive messaging to engage underserved and under representative communities.

Just about their messaging strategy.

And then I do have one more question.

Okay.

It says to develop targeted outreach campaigns for major election cycles.

Just wondering what messaging we have in mind for that.

So targeted could be it could vary.

So if you you may recall last year, uh actually in 2024, we had a campaign around inactive does not mean ineligible.

So we targeted those individuals where we had returned mail to let them know, you know, hey, this does not mean that you're ineligible to vote, contact your you know, office, talk contact our office to find out how.

Thank you.

That's all my questions.

Thank you, Mr.

Arboroman.

Nothing from me.

Nothing for me either.

With that, oh Ms.

Leman.

Thank you.

I just wanted to follow up and clarify that the mention of specific media outlets is not in this agreement that you're referring to items that you saw on a website that's not in here.

Okay.

Um, and also to clarify what underrepresented communities means, it does not mean a partisan group of people.

That's not what that refers to.

So it's um referring to access to the polls and um certain features that would inhibit people's access to the polls.

So this isn't it's not based on uh any sort of partisan identification, and I just wanted to make sure for the public's benefit that that is to note that that's not included in this agreement.

Thank you.

Okay.

I just want to respond that the reason I brought it up is because it's a the case that they showed on the website is kind of similar.

It was targeting elections in the neighboring county.

Thank you.

Okay, with that, can we get a motion to approve the um the profile PR agreement?

Um and so I think Director Smith, can you remind us what do we what are we approving?

Um providing authorization for the executive director to execute an agreement and a form that's approved by the county attorney.

So moved.

Okay, can I get a second?

Second.

All right, all in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right, we're gonna move into items for decision.

Um, so what we'll do is Dr.

Smith, if you can go through the director's report and also the pre-certification dates, and then we will hand it over, I believe, to Mr.

Petty, who will talk us, go over legislative updates.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, so I'd just like to provide an overview of the work that has been underway across the department since our last gathering.

Our teams have continued to operate at a high level as we prepare for the May General Primary, um, manage ongoing voter registration activity, support public engagement efforts, and ensure our operational infrastructure remains on track for our upcoming elections.

So across operations, registrations, elections, training, outreach, and communications.

I just want to um give a shout out to staff because they've been actively executing the work that's reflected in your packets, um and in support of you know the mission of the department.

And um, so again, I always want to shout them out and give them kudos for their work because it is um never ending and ever changing.

Okay, so uh we'll start with the regist, yes, cats for them.

If you turn to um your packets on page 35, you will see the registration updates.

Um as of Friday, um which actually it was Thursday the 9th that these numbers were pulled.

The registration numbers uh for CAP County, there were a total number of 566,829.

Okay, so of that 491,988 were active, and 74,841 were inactive.

And again, that was as of Thursday.

We did not pull the numbers for uh this morning um because it hasn't been you know that many days.

So at our May meeting, well, probably be the same because they're certification meetings, but we can pull those numbers just so that you can see the difference that two days and a weekend make.

Um for applications left to be processed.

There were 9,727, a total of 9,700, I'm sorry, and 25 as of April 7th, of which 8,066 were the Department of Driver Services or DDS.

Oliver uh 489, that's the online voter registration portal, and my voter page MVP 563, and then handwritten applications totaled 607.

So far in 2026, there have been 918 cancellations, manual voter registration cancellations.

Okay.

Um just an update on return mail that's being uh facilitated and uh completed by the registration team as of April 7th.

Uh there was a total of 3,564 pieces of returned mail.

And 527 of those were precinct cards, 1,720 or confirmation notices from the Secretary of State's office, and seven were confirmation notices from our office.

There were also 1,310 letters that were mailed that were returned, and those are the year to date numbers.

Again, 3,564 remaining to be processed of the 3,564 is 646 pieces of mail.

Logic and accuracy testing is underway for the May General Primary and will continue until completion.

This activity is open for the public, and all LA is conducted in our office and in the warehouse or the gym's room, depending on the activity, but it is open to the public and as mentioned will continue until completion.

We are testing for early voting, 20 um early voting sites.

We have 63 hubs, 299 touch screens, 25 ICP scanners, and 65 poll pads.

For election day, the equipment that's being tested totals 100, well, for 147 sites, totals 385 hubs, 1,687 touch screens, 182 scanners, ICP scanners, and 396 poll pads.

In those numbers, we have an additional uh supply that will be tested in the event that they need to be deployed on election day, and the same for early voting, so that we don't have to stop and test before sending out.

We're testing a surplus or reserve of equipment for emergencies.

So we have 324 absentee ballots that have been issued UACA.

Our vendor will begin mailing the domestic ballots on April 20th.

So to date, we had 1,069 domestic applications received and accepted.

I'm sorry, accepted.

So 1,069 domestic applications have been accepted to date.

If you turn to the packet on page 36.

I'm happy to report that the fiscal year 2026 budget has been loaded in the system.

And so what you have here is the total budget for the fiscal year.

You will note the increase.

And so after our meeting, I believe it was the February meeting that the board provided additional input on the budget.

And so one of those amendments was an additional mil $1 million for outreach.

And so that was granted, and you will see that that's included.

And so I'm confident that we will, I'm sorry, 54, not 53, 54, and that's for the computer equipment and software.

So you'll see that the budget um is 53,000 and 63,000 respectively, and you can you'll see the sum available um in the last column.

And so I'm confident uh that we will be able to work within the parameters of the appropriations, um, and as always, um if we find that you know we get to you know the end of the uh summer and the general primary costs more than what we anticipated, we will go back and request additional funds.

Um I do also note I know that everyone is wondering what's gonna happen in July, and so one of the things that we communicated at the time um that we requested additional funding in February was that hey, we may have to pivot um and uh you know at the guidance of the Secretary of State, and with that may come a price tag of anywhere between five and seven million dollars, and so that is on the administration's radar.

Um, and it in the communication that I sent to them, we requested the establishment of a contingency fund to cover this type of you know issue.

And so while I don't think that it was necessarily established, that was requested.

Okay, so five to seven million um in the event that you know legislative proposals or any changes um are enacted that would change the way we operate, and so um that is also you know something that was um submitted for consideration in anticipation of any changes.

Um but uh so that's the budget.

Um I do just want to mention that training um uh to date we have trained 1,579 uh poll work poll officials, and um I do uh do want to thank this staff for um assisting, you know, making sure that the learning management system, the LMS system, is under you know launched, and so we've received uh tremendous uh feedback and um approval of the site.

And again, that is something that is a supplement to in-person training.

It does not replace in place in in-person training, but it does allow uh poll officials to access supplemental training, which we will continue to add to as we find um you know issues or as things change.

Um, you know, we may not have time to bring everyone in for minor uh tweaks, and so I think that that's a convenience that we provide our poll officials to be able to access the additional training online.

We've also trained a hundred one hundred and thirty-five deputy registras so far this year who you know will assist the county in um registration drives and what have you in the community.

Um our outreach calendar is posted.

Uh again, we always you know are um willing to attend any community events with notice.

And so if you have any events that you would like for the Cab County to attend, please go to our website and request our attendance.

Uh that's all that I have.

Um but I'm happy to answer questions at this time.

Great, thank you so much.

Um, I'll start to my left this time with Mr.

Brahman and we'll go around.

Switching it up.

Um less of a question, uh but I know this director Smith used um the terminology UAKaba ballots and then domestic ballots, but I just wanted to make it clear for the public that this is shorthand used by the elections office, but you Akaaba does involve some domestic ballots for military members who are stationed throughout the country, correct?

That's correct.

Okay, yes, that's all.

Thank you.

Is that it?

Okay, Miss Lee.

Thank you.

Um the temporary personnel services.

Uh the for the first three months, we have expended 500, well, basically 560,000 dollars.

And done a purchase order for another 420.

And since the first three months didn't have a whole lot of elections, I'm just wondering why these big expense.

Some of those are closing out the last year that hit in the first quarter of this year.

So that's what you have there.

Some of those larger um invoices were from 2025 the last two months of that year.

And it's because that's the timing of things.

I know that we have enough in that we won't uh be over budget in that category.

Okay.

Thank you.

The next one is the always interesting category of other professional services.

All right.

And have purchase orders for another 458,000 and requisition for another 4,000, which comes to a million 52,000.

Um we're only in April.

Yes.

So this line item is one that our uh deputy director is uh auditing.

Um I think we have some of the same issue it's part it's the same as I mentioned for the temporary services, and that some of that closed out uh the 2025 invoices that were outstanding.

Um I'm trying to see what in that category under that line item we charge the custodial services.

Um we have also charged um the security services um as well, and so I'll drill down, I'll have a drill down of that just to look to make sure that you know we don't have any issues going forward and that we'll be on track um with maintaining that budget line that line item and purchase orders.

So what happens with the custodian uh custodial services and security?

We have a $100,000 purchase order that we open to be able to draw down.

So that $420,000 may be for the next three months of expenses that we anticipate occurring, but that's just the process um you know, with the purchase orders because we know that we're gonna at least spend $100,000 uh over the next quarter, and so um I'll get I'll have the drill down um now that the budget is loaded.

Uh we can really delve into it a little more to answer these questions a little better.

Okay.

And so can we expect to hear that at the next meeting?

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

Most definitely.

And then the the last question involves the advertising services of a million one hundred thousand dollars.

Um I assume this does not include the contract that we just approved that this would be for like the advertisement with media and that sort of thing.

So this is a part of the million dollars that we did just receive as um an additional uh appropriation for this year.

Uh I believe that the contract, I think we had budgeted for a hundred thousand dollars just in advance of going into an agreement with the consultant, and so that is a part of that line item.

So you will begin to see that fund that monthly invoice come out of that.

A million dollars seems an awful lot for uh a government agency that everybody knows exists.

What is our purpose of having such an enhanced spending?

Well, uh it was requested by several folks.

And we have outlined a strategic uh spending, a strat or uh proposal for that funding, and you'd be surprised at how much things cost uh to you know increase awareness around our activities, and so let me just pull something up and I can just give you some estimates.

Um but your question is why we want to advertise.

Uh I'm sorry, can you repeat the question that you want me to answer?

What's the purpose in that we're intending for this million dollar campaign?

Okay.

So we have an estimate for media buys, um, which would be uh radio um public service announcements, uh just general um awareness uh around you know how when where to vote into CAB County elections, and so an estimated uh estimated uh cost of 210 to 280,000 for that category for the year.

Um we also have some digital targeted digital and mail, uh, which is direct mail with an estimated range of three hundred thousand uh we are looking at um some seasonal outreach uh team members, adding them to our uh seasonal employees staffing level, and those individuals may go to a South Decat mall during early voting to let folks know that this is not a site this year and hand you know provide information those days to direct redirect them to the nearest location.

Um they may um also help with uh info drops is what we uh call when we go out to the libraries or to the senior centers to uh deliver you know materials around what how and when and where to vote in DeCab County.

We are also looking at staffing the mobile unit when it's delivered, and so going to the schools will require additional hands on deck, and so with that we're um looking at um an additional, I think was that community activation one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and then event presence materials, which includes uh signage um across the county, um in the polling locations, um, and also uh promotional materials such as you know these fans and other things that we would give to individuals that uh we engage with in the communities to encourage um them to make a plan or uh go to the website to check their status, and then so the events material, did you have a number a number for that?

Um that is 270,000.

Wow.

It's a lot of material.

Well, we have over close to six hundred thousand registered voters, so okay.

All right, thank you.

Two dollars of a voter, Mr.

Browning.

I uh I think it's safe to say that my good friend board member uh Lee, Mr.

Calling, she should have been an auditor.

Um spoken to somebody who knows the profession.

Um I've got a little bit more of a straightforward question.

Um just you know, we've talked about this before, but I'm looking at the workers' compensation line item.

Uh I see an $8,646 expenditure.

I know that's not a particularly large amount.

I guess my question is, is that pertaining to a loss or is that a premium?

I mean, do we do we because the you know workers' compensation claims go much much higher than that?

Um I guess I'm just curious what the nature of that expenditure is.

I would have to ask the finance department regard about that.

That's something that I'm not privy to, you know, the information is not something that I request regularly, but I can find that out.

Yeah, uh and again, I mean, I'm I'm just asking because I'm I mean, just you know, taking a look at exposure.

I mean, you know, obviously I don't want anybody to be hurt associated with this, you know, this agency.

Um, but I mean that's a it's a pretty pretty low workers' compensation claim.

If we could look into that, I would just be curious to learn more about it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I just want to clarify just so that we're clear.

You're saying these are preloaded by the county, so you don't have any input, but you can get information from the county and I will yes, right.

That's what I'm saying.

We we don't control these numbers at all.

Well, to to be clear, uh madam chair, it's an expenditure, so it's not I mean, it's it's something that has been expended.

I'm just curious to know more about it.

Sure.

Okay.

I I just want to clarify though, I think it's a county.

I I suspect that it's a total amount that gets allocated across departments within the county.

So yes, I will confirm that.

Just seems a just seemed a bit arcane.

Just wanted to learn a little more about it.

Ms.

Loving.

Um, thank you.

So um just to maybe put a bow on the previous conversation around the advertising, um, that was in response to a request from this board to supplement that line item.

Um so um just noting that, and also that um the use of that is not about awareness about the existence of the department, um, but the fact that there are active and ongoing elections and how people are uh able to participate in those elections.

So while we're here multiple times a month engaging in these conversations, a lot of folks are not paying attention.

And so it takes a lot of different touch points in order to make them aware and make sure that they understand how to participate and exercise um the franchise and participate in their you know in their democracy.

Um so that's the purpose of that.

But the question that I wanted to ask um on the contingency fund is um what would be the operational impact to the department if we were to have to pivot at the last minute and did not have the funds that you requested.

Didn't didn't even scare you.

Yes, it would be scary because we would have to staff up.

Uh we would have to train.

Um, you know, whatever the new process would be.

Um, we would have to plan for days and you know, weeks of training before uh being able to pivot.

Um if we don't have the funding, if there's new equipment that has to be purchased, um I mean it would be uh difficult uh to facilitate uh as a seamless process and even with efficiency.

So it would be a huge burden on staff and operations if we did not have the funding if it was needed.

Thank you.

And um, you know, the the county has been very supportive of this department, so I uh anticipate that they would step up and meet that need, but there are how many counties in this state?

159.

Thank you.

Um and so everybody may not be in the same place as the CAP is with the supportive board of commissioners.

So that was all my questions.

Thank you.

Madam Chair.

Yes, uh make comments and then we'll go back around.

Um okay.

So on the issue, I have three areas I wanted to to ask questions about.

Do you want to start back on the on the advertising budget?

Um today we just certified a runoff election where five percent of the electorate voted.

That is why members of the board, I believe it was at our last meeting or February requested that we have additional funds for advertising.

So the advertising, and I think advertising the verbiage is confusing because the product that we're selling is your ability to vote.

It is not the elections department.

And so we want to ensure that more than 5%.

And I think even on a federal election, we only get what, 20, 30%, or what was our number, no more.

It's not 100 is the point.

So our goal is to get everybody who's registered to vote to make sure they're aware of where that there is an election, that they understand when they can vote, where they can vote in the timing.

And so that is the purpose of it.

And I've asked and a million dollars for a county with a budget of 15 million dollars.

That's only what 10.

My math is real bad, but less than 10%.

Yeah, of our uh of our budget to get the word out so that uh just for the public, that number seems large, but this is a large county with almost 600,000 voters.

And so it is, in my opinion, it is our duty to do our best to make sure that everyone who can vote knows where they vote, knows how they vote, and is aware of the election, because you would be surprised at the number of people that don't even realize we're gonna be voting for the governor this year.

So um, okay, so then on the second question, can you remind can you just talk through the difference between the temp the category for temporary in salary and then temporary personnel services?

I just I so our county, the CAP County uh hires our poll officials as seasonal um employees.

So that under the 51 object code, those uh that 51 1200 um pays our poll workers.

And then under 52, those are the seasonal temporary staff members who assist in the office or in the warehouse, and they are hired through the uh temp agencies that the county um executed agreements with.

And so actually we just had uh the county just did the same process that we did uh completed with the consultant, and we have three new uh temp agencies um this year for the cat the CAP county, and so those uh temporary employees, which this year we'll probably have anywhere between 70 to like a hundred um throughout the year working in the office again, whether it's assisting with the additional um registration applications or uh absentee um and then also warehouse activities.

So they are paid under 52.

Okay, and then um with respect to the the after post-July 1st world, um, where we may there are a myriad of of ways this can happen.

I wanted to ask you about you know the emergency ballot option.

Can you speak to the both financial and operational sort of impact on early voting of having so specifically I guess my question is um in early voting, as we all know, uh an individual voter goes to a precinct and can vote um at one precinct that it is not their actual precinct.

So, how many, for example, ballot types would we have to have on hand or just the a round figure.

Um, I know there have been sort of questions about on-demand printing.

Is that approved at this point?

Will there have to be additional sort of legislation or or comp uh ability to allow us to have that?

Is that I want can I want to call um Jay up to speak to the number of ballot types we would have.

Um because I think the public needs to understand.

Um when we talk about emergen going to emergency ballots, it's one thing to do that on a on the election day.

It is a completely different um, it's completely different for early voting, and we should be clear that the majority of the CAV voters vote in early voting.

So effectively we could be limiting by the people's ability to early vote if we move to emergency paper ballots for for the entire election.

Okay, Jay.

Um yeah, so for this election, there are upwards of a thousand ballot styles.

Some of those are UOCAVA, which wouldn't need to be printed um at early voting.

Um but I believe there are 666 ballot styles that could potentially be requested in person.

So can you say there?

So just so we're clear, that means that for an early vote location in the current regime where where ballot on demand printers have not been approved or certified, a early vote location would have to have 666 ballot styles available on demand.

Uh that's correct.

If without without ballot on demand, yes, it would have 666 different packets of ballots which we'd have to poll.

And then poll workers would have to somehow I guess figure out a way to be able to pull the correct ballot of the 666 ballots for the individual that comes to vote.

I mean, this is assuming no ballot on demand, which isn't leak legal right now.

And so just I just want to clarify that.

So then from a costing perspective, that's where the five to what seven million dollars comes into play with what Director Smith, how we get there, which what which is why it will be so expensive potentially.

That's a part of it.

Okay, and just paying individuals.

Um the cost of personnel.

Presuming people want to be involved in work.

That okay, thank you, Jay.

That was my question there.

And then let me just one more thing.

On the um registration update.

So we have 9,725 left to be processed.

Um will we be able to get that down to zero before or when do will that number ever go to zero?

Can you talk the to what that is?

So there's a cutoff, uh registration cutoff, which um for this election is April 20th.

Um we will be able to process out you know, registrations that were submitted by the deadline, uh, which is April 20th before this start of early voting.

And so when you go to the dashboard on April 21st, you're gonna see some registration applications, right?

Um our staff uh is able to um complete between between 1200 and 1500 applications each week.

And so, but we also receive you know daily um applications, and so even up until April 20th, it's not gonna get down to zero.

Um, but we will be able to complete the applications that are received by April 20th before the start of early voting.

Okay, thank you.

Ms.

Lee, and then if there are any other questions.

Um I think maybe we ought to reserve some of the advertising uh money uh in case there is a change in the uh election cycles and requirements.

And while I'm on the subject, um Madam Chair, I'd like to submit a resolution for the next board meeting for decision.

And that would be for handmarked paper ballots.

We can discuss it.

Okay.

Oh, I don't need it right now.

We can okay.

Thanks me.

All right, Mr.

Abu Raman.

I'll just say I hope we don't do a hand count.

Um Jay, when you were talking about ballot styles, or maybe even Director Smith, you can um you can speak to this.

This is about the primary, right?

Yeah.

Primary having more ballot styles than the the general election.

Uh but of course the general election has greater turnout.

Um what's the anticipated number of ballot styles for the general election?

Um I mean you you could you could call it roughly a third of that, so in the 200s.

Um I don't I think I had that number somewhere, but I don't, I can't give it down to the last decimal place.

I have um been using with folks in terms of a ballpark for the general the idea that there's around 280 ballot combos and then 432 ballot styles.

Does that sound ballpark?

Yeah, I believe the the current absolute maximum if everything were on the ballot would be 279, it would be a little bit less than that because you know, like municipalities wouldn't necessarily be involved, and that's part of what's creating those combos.

Yeah.

But it would be yeah, it would be 279 downward.

So I ballot combos.

There's there's 279 precinct portions, which is um not exactly combos, but more or less what you're asking, yes.

So that's the that's the theoretical maximum.

We'd probably be somewhere between 222 and 279.

Okay.

And we're distinguishing ballot combos and ballot styles as in uh unique precinct identifier and the combo equals a style.

That's kind of my understanding.

Uh yes, that that could potentially create a ballot style.

Yeah.

However, also sometimes there's more than one combo on the same ballot if a particular district isn't participating in the election.

So it requires a lot of you know, figuring it out, but that's the kind of thing that goes into it, yes.

Yeah.

So at least I mean hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of ballot styles.

Yeah, stepped up.

Yeah, probably more than 222.

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

Um again just want to introduce some back of the napkin math to to folks, especially in in the public.

Um, let's say for a general election, there are some 350,000 ballots uh in this county.

Um I think a conservative estimate from a county that didn't experiment with hand count with fewer races than DeCab County was about 0.6 man hours or person hours per ballot.

Um of course you have to do this in teams, they have to be verified.

Um so now you're getting around 500,000 person hours to do this.

Uh so again, back of the napkin math.

Let's say you have a thousand people working 40 hours in a week, that's 40,000 hours, right?

So to get up to 500,000, you're multiply that by 12, and you're not you're not there yet.

Um so you're talking astronomical amount of time that needs to be spent to count these ballots, let alone training these folks on how to do that in the first place, right?

Training the the thousand people I just mentioned working around the clock full time on how to do this.

Um it's just not tenable.

Um, and you don't need to have some nuanced knowledge about this stuff in order to figure that out.

This back of the napkin math is kind of the the sort of math that's gonna be involved here, and I wanted to make that point.

Okay, are there any other questions?

Right.

Director Smith.

So um we for the public, as you know, um you saw many of us more casually attired on last Friday because we had to attend a pre-certification meeting, that is a requirement, uh I believe SBA SEB rules.

Um so we're gonna try to schedule those out for the rest of the year, which is the next part of this meeting.

Okay, so um for May the election takes place on the 19th.

And so the pre-certification meeting has to be held no later than that Friday, the 22nd at 3 p.m.

Okay.

I think um there was an agreement around Wednesday, and I believe that the last time we did this, what time do we was do for is 430 on Wednesday?

Does that work for the board?

Okay, 430 Wednesday.

Okay, and I'll need to uh confirm with confirm with DC TV there about availability.

Um you want to give an alternative time on Wednesday?

Could could we do earlier or no?

It's fine.

Okay.

So can everyone do noon on Wednesday as a backup?

Just is that enough time for the office post-election day to have some say so it is not enough time.

Okay, um but I do just again these are the larger elections.

You're not gonna get a report that does not have any um discrepancies because they are working through that during canvassing.

That's what that week in between the election and certification allows for.

And so I think the later the better.

Um well, we will stick with 430 and you'll let us know if that DCTV is not available.

Hope you guys are available on Wednesday.

Personally, I think we're pushing it.

If we could do could we to do it on Wednesday.

Yes.

If we could do a Friday, that would be so the preference is because is a Friday.

No, well, it's because we'll have two full days of reconciliation.

So that when we you know come before the board, you'll have um more information.

Reconciled um, you know, sure.

Or we just have it at the certification date.

But yes, I hear you.

So Friday, what time?

Uh it would have to be we have to do this by 3 p.m.

on Friday.

So Friday.

Earlier, better.

Okay.

If it's like 8 30 in the morning.

Uh it's the 15th.

No, that's the 20th.

22nd.

You're right.

So Friday.

22nd.

Do you have is could we do 8:30?

How long are this meeting maybe?

30 minutes.

Okay.

Or either.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, it depends on how many questions you guys have.

Yeah.

But we'll have I can't commit to that.

Um 8 30 on Friday.

Okay.

Okay, so 8 30 on Friday.

Okay.

All right.

And then the next election, uh the runoff would be on June 16th.

16th.

So we would need to have it by that the 19th, right?

Yes.

Okay.

It's Juneteenth.

Oh, yeah.

So the 19th is Juneteenth, so we'd have to do it on the 18th.

Would it be the 18th that you would have to do it?

Yeah, it's a federal.

Or is it do they give you an when is certification?

So it would be the Monday.

My certification would be Tuesday.

So certification will be Tuesday.

Certification will be Tuesday, but the pre cert.

No, but it has to still be by the Friday at three, right?

I think we have to do it on Thursday, guys.

Okay.

Yeah.

So Thursday the 18th.

9.

So what got in the way of Friday again?

Juneteenth.

It's Juneteenth.

Yeah, it's a holiday.

Oh no, right off.

Okay, got it.

I don't think it's a county holiday.

Yes, it's a federal holiday.

It's a state and federal.

It's a okay.

I think we should go with June.

But we're working on Thursday.

I do too.

Okay.

What what time?

Yeah.

4 30.

4 30 on Thursday the 18th.

Okay.

All right.

And I think we're gonna have to um defer for November.

Sounds good.

I'll check with GCTV on their availability.

Unless another special election pops up.

Never know.

Okay.

We're gonna turn it over to our legal eagles and hear uh the legislative update.

Yeah, I'll be brief.

Um as you know, the legislature session ended on April 2nd.

Um I guess the big news that's already been noted is that the um legislature did not pass anything to address the Q upcoming QR code issue.

There were a couple of bills that addressed it, but none of them passed.

Um other than that, the main um election related bill that I wanted to make you aware of that what did pass was HB 369.

Um that bill changes um and makes certain elections for certain county officials nonpartisan um in counties that have a medical examiner instead of a coroner.

So those counties would be Fulton, Cobb, Gwynet, uh Clayton, and us um to CAB.

So in those counties, this new bill would require um that the district attorney, the clerk of superior court, the tax commissioner and solicitor generals um be elected in nonpartisan elections, and some of the other counties it would apply to the um the governing authority, but it would not apply to the governing authority here in uh to CAB.

So those races would remain partisan.

Um that's really all I've got from the session.

If you have any questions, okay.

Do we have any questions?

Okay, seeing none, thank you for the update.

Is there a need for executive session?

There is not okay.

No, that nothing there was nothing approved.

Okay, um, I do want to make an announcement that pro worker appreciation is Saturday, April 18th.

This Saturday at 11 o'clock, and it is going to be here outside.

Please stop by.

Um last year was a great time.

It's like a little block party.

Is that right?

No, isn't that that's not a great time?

We always have a great time.

Okay.

I'm sorry, that was a different event.

This is the second annual pro worker um appreciation.

I think it was a registration block party that I'm thinking of, but um look for it, it's open to the public.

It starts at 11, not open to the public.

So registration disregard everything I just said, I apologize.

Um I thought that this was a public note.

We're not gonna turn any, we're not gonna turn anyone away.

But if you're a poll worker, please come out on April 18th, that's Saturday at 11 o'clock.

The um at here.

Um, and anyone else who wants to join, you're more than welcome as well.

Maybe just kidding.

Okay, with that, we're gonna go to board comments.

Um I guess I'll go start with Dele this.

Oh, I can start in the middle, Mr.

Valden.

We're just gonna pop corn it.

I I mean I'll try and make do.

Um, thanks to everyone for coming out.

I think that it was great to see everyone.

I think we covered a lot of good ground here today, and I look forward to seeing you next month as we discuss secure elections in the Cap County.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Um, okay, Mr.

Abraham.

Ooh, popcorn.

I am.

Uh just thank you to everyone for all of your hard work.

Um, and I know that uh this month in particular leading into early vote, and of course the week before early vote is very difficult.

It's that first batch of standard absentee ballots going out, it's processing all of the registrations that have come in, it's finalizing arrangements with all of the early voting or advanced in-person locations.

Um it's very difficult, especially that week.

So, best of luck to everybody this month and during that week.

It was great to hear people extolling the virtues of the current poll worker training um during public comment.

Um, the goal is to continue iterating on all of our processes to be uh more efficient, more accurate, and it's great to see so much community participation.

Um, of course, the more um the more we're able to enhance our processes, the better prepared we are for some of the nonsense that might be coming down the pike.

Um, so um absolutely want to thank everybody who's involved in helping this department run um its elections um and run them accurately and efficiently.

Thank you to all of you.

Ms.

Lee.

Well, I'm sorry I didn't see this before when it was presented to us, but um on page nine where it gives our key priorities.

I have a concern.

It says our key priorities center on enhancing the voter experience for all eligible voters in DeCab County.

I think our key priority should be election integrity and delivering accurate returns through a fair, efficient and transparent operation.

And then things like voter experience, our secondary and operational, well, staff training technology and all that.

Um comes second.

But the the main priority should be election integrity with fair and efficient operations and accurate um tabulation.

So anyway, I just want to throw that out there.

We need, I think we need to consider rearranging those priorities.

Thank you.

Ms.

Lohmann.

Uh just want to um thank the uh team for your uh constant good work.

I did not get to participate in what I heard was a very enthusiastic happy birthday to our executive director last week.

Um so happy belated birthday.

My rule is that every time someone wishes me happy birthday, the clock starts over again.

So I'm still in my 30s, just FYI by that role.

Happy anniversary of your 29th birthday.

Yes, exactly.

That's how that goes.

Um, and thank you to everyone who continues to show up every week and participate in these uh sometimes tedious but still very important meetings, and please uh share what you learn here and hear here with your neighbors and uh family so that they are uh have the opportunity to be just as informed and engaged as you are.

That's it.

Thank you.

Um again, I want to thank uh the our election staff.

I want to thank our our legal team, DC TV shout out, thank you for all you do to make this work.

And um before we leave, I just think it's an it I'm gonna get on this draw, this soapbox, but it's unfortunate that our legislature couldn't didn't do their job, and so now we are sort of stuck trying to um figure out what to do um in a situation that we really shouldn't be in.

Um that being said, um, you know, it in my opinion, the best the best fix was the bill that pushed this to another year.

I think that there can be a lot of opinions and disagreement about what that means, whether that is a move to paper ballots, whether that is uh the the current system.

Um whatever we end up with, we should be it should be done in a way that's thoughtful and actually allows us to um implement whatever it is and ensure that everybody votes because as I always say, voting is not partisan at all.

And so um right now, a lot of the options that are out there, say for pushing this for another year are bad.

Um, we should be very clear that if we're talking about moving to emergency ballots for both early voting and for day of voting, we are creating a situation where it will be very difficult for people to vote early, period.

That is just logistically what will happen.

We are talking about hundreds of ballots, different ballots that have to be available and that have to be printed.

We are talking about a system where none of the counties have on-demand printers that are uh compliant or allowed.

So the idea that we are also just going to have on-demand printing is not reality right now.

Um we are talking about a situation where we have poll workers that are already burdened by so many different rules that now we'll have to learn a new set of rules and they will be in an environment that will be so complex and potentially confusing.

We could avoid all that by doing the responsible thing, which is to move this for one to one year and figuring out the best play, the best strategy to ensure that we have um great elections here in Georgia.

Um, so I think you know, let's all take a beat and and you know, we're gonna all focus on this May election, and then we're gonna have to figure out what to do after July 1.

But thank you all for being here.

Thank you all for being a part of this process for hearing everyone's uh views on this.

And with that, I am gonna ask for a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Second, can I get a second?

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.