Board of Elections

Minutes - Regular Meeting Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections & Voter Registration September 12, 2023, 4:30pm 120 W Dougherty Street, Athens, GA 30601 Bylaws of the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections and Voter Registration (bit.ly/accboebylaws) Chair Raffle called the meeting to order at 4:30pm. In attendance were Rocky Raffle, Chair; Ann Till, Vice Chair; Adam Shirley, Secretary; Willa Fambrough; and Hank Qadir, Member. Others in attendance were Charlotte Sosebee, Elections Supervisor; Pamela Long, Elections Assistant; Audra Taylor, Elections Assistant; Lisa McGlaun, Elections Assistant; Aletha Perkins, Administrative Assistant; James Howard, Election Clerk; Wanda Stevens, Election Clerk; Blaine Williams, County Manager; and Sherrie Hines, Assistant County Attorney. Also in attendance was one member of the public. A. MOTION by Mr. Qadir to approve the agenda. Seconded by Ms. Till. Approved unanimously. B. MOTION by Mr. Shirley to approve the minutes from the August 8 regular meeting, the August 24 special meeting, and the August 25 special meeting. Seconded by Ms. Till. Approved unanimously. C. There was no public comment. D. Director Sosebee, Ms. Perkins, Ms. McGlaun, Ms. Long, and Ms. Taylor gave the Director’s Report. E. Old Business 1. Update on RFP for Spanish language translation 2. Emergency Operations Center for Elections in 2024 F. New Business 1. Board of Elections appointees needed for Vote Review Panel/Ballot Duplication Panel for November 5, 2023 election MOTION by Ms. Fambrough to approve all five candidates for Vote Review Panel and Ballot Duplication Panel appointment as recommended by staff. Seconded by Mr. Shirley. Approved unanimously. 2. Advance voting dates, times, locations for the November 5, 2023, general election MOTION by Ms. Till to hold advance voting for the November 5, 2023, election as follows: Monday through Friday, October 16 through 20, 8am until 5pm, at the elections office; Saturday, October 21, 9am until 5pm, at the elections office. Monday through Friday, October 23 through 27, 8am until 5pm, at the elections office; Saturday, October 28, 9am until 5pm at the elections office and at the Winterville Train Depot, and the Athens-Clarke County Library; and Monday  through Friday, October 30 through November 3, 8am until 5pm at the elections office, the Winterville Train Depot, and the Athens-Clarke County Library. Seconded by Mr. Qadir. Approved unanimously. 3. Advance voting template for elections in 2024 and beyond 4. Emergency Operations Center for General Election in 2024 MOTION by Ms. Till to enter Executive Session for an attorney-client conference to discuss a document that is not releasable under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. §50-1-72(a)(41) as ia authorized by O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3(b)(4). Seconded by Mr. Qadir. Approved unanimously. Entered executive session at 5:54pm. Returned from executive session 6:16pm. 5. Final approval of changes to polling precincts and Election Day polling locations effective March 2024 MOTION by Ms. Till to amend the agenda by moving Item 1 to the end of New Business. Seconded by Mr. Shirley. Approved unanimously. MOTION by Ms. Fambrough to approve “a resolution of the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections and Voter Registration to report its findings related to the proposed precinct changes and to approve and authorize publication of notice of the proposed precinct changes; and for other lawful purposes.” Seconded by Ms. Till. Approved unanimously. MOTION by Ms. Till to approve “A resolution of the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections and Voter Registration to approve and authorize publication of notice of the proposed polling place changes as reflected in Exhibit ‘A’ attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and for other lawful purposes.” Seconded by Mr. Shirley. Approved unanimously. G. Announcements 1. Tuesday, September 19: National Poll Worker Day 2. September 20, 10am-5pm, : Logistics and Accuracy testing for the November 2023 elections 3. September 21, 9am-5pm: Logistics and Accuracy testing for the November 2023 elections 4. September 22, 9am-5pm: Logistics and Accuracy testing for the November 2023 elections 5. Poll worker training runs from September 28 through October 6. October 1 through 7: National Voter Education Week 7. Tuesday, October 3: Election Education Forum specifically for elected officials and political parties 8. Thursday, October 5: Election education forum specifically for voters 9. Tuesday, October 10: Deadline to register or update registration in time to vote in the November election 10. Monday, October 16: Earliest date the Department of Elections is allowed to mail absentee ballots Advance voting begins for November 2023 election H. MOTION by Ms. Till to adjourn. Seconded by Mr. Qadir. Approved unanimously. Adjourned at 6:27pm.