1 00:00:09,650 --> 00:00:16,710 Good afternoon and welcome to today's Board of Registration and Election Special called meeting. Can I get the roll call, please? 2 00:00:17,030 --> 00:00:22,430 Good afternoon, Board members. When I call your name, please signify by saying here. 3 00:00:22,430 --> 00:00:29,470 Fossil up a ramen here, Travis Balden, Gail Lee here, Delay Loman here, 4 00:00:30,430 --> 00:00:36,010 Cardi Swift here. Madam chair, you have a corner. Thank you. Can I get a motion to approve the 5 00:00:36,010 --> 00:00:44,450 agenda? Some of second, all in favor. All right. All right. Great. Okay. Now, we are going to have 6 00:00:44,450 --> 00:00:45,350 public comment. 7 00:00:52,470 --> 00:00:56,790 Public comment may be made in person are submitted by sending an email of no 8 00:00:56,790 --> 00:01:03,590 A one printed page or less at a minimum of 12 point font to elections public comment at 9 00:01:03,590 --> 00:01:09,350 decavcountie.gov, which must be received between 35 and 5 minutes before the schedule 10 00:01:09,350 --> 00:01:10,170 started in the meeting. 11 00:01:10,690 --> 00:01:15,310 The body of your email must include your first and last name by submitting an email for 12 00:01:15,310 --> 00:01:20,830 public comment you agree to have your name and email broadcast on the U-Stream and enter 13 00:01:20,830 --> 00:01:22,810 into the official record in minutes. 14 00:01:22,810 --> 00:01:26,810 The Decab Board of Registration and Elections Reserves the Right. 15 00:01:28,130 --> 00:01:30,670 At the Decab County Board of Registration and Elections, 16 00:01:30,810 --> 00:01:37,250 so a discretion to one at your email to the record without reading any of it into the broadcast, 17 00:01:37,670 --> 00:01:41,570 or we all are a portion of your email into the record in minutes. 18 00:01:42,130 --> 00:01:45,950 All public comments will be limited to two minutes, abusive, profane, 19 00:01:46,330 --> 00:01:50,370 derogatory language, holding up signs, clapping, yelling, standing, 20 00:01:50,370 --> 00:01:57,250 our line in the L's to show support for our opposition to a speaker will not be permitted. 21 00:01:57,510 --> 00:02:02,570 But a show of hands are quietly standing in place will be permitted to show support for 22 00:02:03,150 --> 00:02:05,310 our opposition to a speaker's actions. 23 00:02:07,740 --> 00:02:12,120 We have two public comments for it. 24 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:19,380 Okay. Thank you. And one, Eli Tronett. Yes. All right. So, Ms. Vigalsky, if you want to come up first, 25 00:02:19,380 --> 00:02:25,280 will have Dr. Harris come back and read the public, the e-comment and in-leash troop. 26 00:02:31,010 --> 00:02:35,410 Good afternoon, my name is Dr. Kendra Begalski. I'm a Decab County resident 27 00:02:35,410 --> 00:02:41,690 and chair of the Decab County Republican Party. I'm disappointed to learn that this board 28 00:02:41,690 --> 00:02:45,950 did not approve a motion for saying the pledge of allegiance before meetings. 29 00:02:46,830 --> 00:02:51,890 Reciting the pledge is a brief unifying civic practice used by school boards, city councils, 30 00:02:51,890 --> 00:02:58,270 County commissions and the Congress of the United States, making that simple act, a point 31 00:02:58,270 --> 00:03:04,270 of division is unnecessary politicization, which is especially unplattering for a board that 32 00:03:04,270 --> 00:03:09,970 governs elections of representatives to our county state and country. The words of the 33 00:03:09,970 --> 00:03:16,690 pledge manner, we pledge allegiance to the Republic for which it stands. We do not pledge allegiance 34 00:03:16,690 --> 00:03:17,910 to a democracy. 35 00:03:19,010 --> 00:03:21,330 That distinction is not a talking point. 36 00:03:21,870 --> 00:03:25,090 It is the form of government established by our constitution. 37 00:03:26,830 --> 00:03:31,150 When a public body charged with administering elections mitts this reminder, 38 00:03:32,090 --> 00:03:35,090 it contributes to a widespread civic error. 39 00:03:35,850 --> 00:03:40,270 The belief that America is a simple majority rule democracy 40 00:03:40,270 --> 00:03:42,150 rather than a republic. 41 00:03:42,970 --> 00:03:48,890 election officials should model the constitutional language they are sworn to uphold. 42 00:03:49,970 --> 00:03:53,890 I respectfully ask this board to reconsider, reciting the pledge of allegiance, 43 00:03:54,590 --> 00:03:56,810 as a regular opening of its public meetings. 44 00:03:57,390 --> 00:04:01,350 It takes very little time and reminds us that we are Americans living 45 00:04:01,350 --> 00:04:06,050 in a constitutional republic and as such, part of something larger and greater 46 00:04:06,050 --> 00:04:08,650 than our respected political affiliations. 47 00:04:09,210 --> 00:04:10,210 Thank you. 48 00:04:12,260 --> 00:04:16,120 What have the email comment? 49 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:25,660 One email comment submitted on Monday, August 31st at 11.48am. 50 00:04:26,140 --> 00:04:29,860 My name is Nancy Arnold and I am a Decap County resident. 51 00:04:30,460 --> 00:04:33,260 I'm a Paul Tolerant that the board did not approve it motion 52 00:04:33,260 --> 00:04:36,400 of forcing the pledge of allegiance before meetings. 53 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,460 What on earth could be the reason for rejecting it? 54 00:04:40,460 --> 00:04:46,280 deciding the pledge is a unifying civic practice used by school boards, city councils, county 55 00:04:46,280 --> 00:04:53,160 commissions, and the Congress of the United States. Making that simple act, a point of division 56 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:58,500 is baffling and is especially unflattering for a board that governs elections of representatives 57 00:04:58,500 --> 00:04:59,960 for our country and state. 58 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:29,980 I actually time myself turning to the flag and reciting the pledge. It took me less than 20 seconds. So obviously time is not the issue. What exactly is the issue? The words of the pledge matter, we pledge allegiance to the Republic for which it stands, we do not pledge allegiance to a democracy. The form of government established by our constitution is a constitutional republic, which represents government, a numeracy. 59 00:05:29,980 --> 00:05:35,740 with powers and the rule of law. When a public body charged with administering elections, 60 00:05:35,860 --> 00:05:42,520 omits this reminder, it contributes to a widespread civic era. The belief that America is a simple 61 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:48,640 majority rule democracy rather than a republic, election officials of all people should model 62 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:54,640 the constitutional language. They are sworn to uphold. I respectfully ask this for to reconsider, 63 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:59,500 reciting the pledge of allegiance as a regular opening of its public meetings. 64 00:05:59,660 --> 00:06:07,280 It takes 20 seconds and yet reminds us that we are all Americans and as such, part of 65 00:06:07,280 --> 00:06:12,240 something larger and greater than our respective political affiliations. 66 00:06:12,420 --> 00:06:15,360 Thank you, Nancy Arnaut, DeCab County resident. 67 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:19,560 Please, troop. 68 00:06:25,190 --> 00:06:27,910 Okay, thanks for letting me speak. 69 00:06:30,170 --> 00:06:33,030 Voting rights groups are expressing concern 70 00:06:33,030 --> 00:06:35,610 about what ID might be required 71 00:06:35,610 --> 00:06:37,890 at the polls in the November election. 72 00:06:39,290 --> 00:06:41,050 This has been especially worrisome 73 00:06:41,050 --> 00:06:42,710 for people whose names on their ID 74 00:06:42,710 --> 00:06:45,030 doesn't match the name on their birth certificates. 75 00:06:46,030 --> 00:06:48,270 And it disproportionately affects women 76 00:06:48,270 --> 00:06:50,390 who change their names when they married. 77 00:06:51,330 --> 00:06:56,650 These people would need to act now to have documentation in November. 78 00:06:58,490 --> 00:07:04,790 Georgia already has strong voter ID laws and our driver's license IDs are real ID compliant. 79 00:07:05,790 --> 00:07:11,410 According to the Secretary of State, our unique driver's license numbers have already been verified 80 00:07:11,410 --> 00:07:16,850 against the federal systematic alien verification for entitlement database. 81 00:07:16,850 --> 00:07:29,130 I think that means that only newly registered voters recently naturalized citizens and some people with expired or out-of-state licenses would need extra documentation. 82 00:07:30,550 --> 00:07:42,190 Can to tab elections with legal guidance give clear specific information to voters about what will be required at the polls, whether or not the same act passes before the election? 83 00:07:42,190 --> 00:07:49,150 Could you also ask the Secretary of State's office to address this issue for voters say why? 84 00:07:49,990 --> 00:07:50,400 Thank you. 85 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:54,120 Thank you. 86 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:55,500 Thank you for all the comments. 87 00:07:55,740 --> 00:07:56,780 That ends public comment. 88 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:03,640 Now we will move into today's item for decision, which is the certification of the August 25th. 89 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,720 2026 Congressional District 13 special election runoff. 90 00:08:07,740 --> 00:08:11,140 I am going to as the Director Smith to provide a report. 91 00:08:12,620 --> 00:08:13,500 Thank you. 92 00:08:13,500 --> 00:08:19,540 I'm good afternoon for your consideration and certification. 93 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:40,320 You will find in your packets the election summer report for the general election of the or the special election runoff for congressional district 13 and before your vote on certification. 94 00:08:40,320 --> 00:09:04,360 I will just go through the post election report for this election, you will see that the turnout numbers are reflected on the slide that is displayed and I think it's the third in your packet. 95 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:17,340 The total number of active voters in this catchment area was 14,595, 623 ballots were cast, 96 00:09:18,020 --> 00:09:27,940 which yields a turnout percentage of 4.27. On election day, there were 274 voters 97 00:09:27,940 --> 00:09:32,220 and during early voting 349. 98 00:09:37,940 --> 00:09:43,340 Early voting took place at the county line Ellen Wood Library 99 00:09:43,900 --> 00:09:47,760 and of as normal and as we usually see 100 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:52,080 the highest turnout days were the last two days, 101 00:09:52,380 --> 00:09:54,260 Thursday and Friday there. 102 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:11,940 There were no absentee ballots requested. I'm sorry. There were three absentee ballots requested, but none were returned by the deadline for this runoff. 103 00:10:13,190 --> 00:10:18,350 And the next slide shows the election day. 104 00:10:18,390 --> 00:10:22,170 There were four precincts and four polling locations. 105 00:10:22,850 --> 00:10:26,890 They were staffed with 17 poll workers, 106 00:10:27,730 --> 00:10:32,430 and the equipment tested and deployed total eight poll pads, 107 00:10:33,030 --> 00:10:35,390 20 touch screens and eight scanners. 108 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:44,060 There were no provisionals on election day or doing early voting, 109 00:10:44,060 --> 00:10:51,700 so no in-person provisional ballots were cast during this run-off and that I believe concludes 110 00:10:51,700 --> 00:11:00,480 their post-election report. As always, we thank our partners, our board, our county departments, 111 00:11:00,700 --> 00:11:07,860 of course our poll workers, poll watches, and my staff who work diligently to facilitate another 112 00:11:07,860 --> 00:11:14,940 successful election. And with that, I will turn it over to you. Thank you. Okay, are there any questions? 113 00:11:15,380 --> 00:11:20,140 Miss Lee? No questions. Okay, slow no questions. 114 00:11:22,020 --> 00:11:26,980 I had one question. Just three absentee ballots requested. None were returned by the deadline. 115 00:11:29,380 --> 00:11:36,640 I'll just preface it with a comment. I'm just unsurprised whenever absentee ballots have trouble 116 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:43,220 getting back for this truly idiotic four-week runoff cycle that we've bought into in Georgia 117 00:11:43,220 --> 00:11:48,200 since SB 202, shorten this from nine weeks to three weeks. 118 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:54,720 I am curious when those ballots were 119 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:59,700 mailed to the voters and if we have any information about where those voters were located. 120 00:12:13,730 --> 00:12:20,030 I believe one of the three applications was a U.S. application from a voter who just happened 121 00:12:20,030 --> 00:12:25,330 to send an FBCA in that short window, and not to attempt to psychoanalyze him, but he may 122 00:12:25,330 --> 00:12:28,550 have primarily been interested in voting in November, in any case we didn't receive his 123 00:12:28,550 --> 00:12:34,750 ballot back. The other two, we roached out to some of the voters to remind them that they 124 00:12:34,750 --> 00:12:41,410 need to reapply because there's no rollover lists and I think they did those two eventually 125 00:12:41,410 --> 00:12:46,050 applied but they did it on the last day and then we mailed it out on the last day which would 126 00:12:46,050 --> 00:12:50,290 have been 11 days before the election. Thank you. 127 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:56,580 Okay thank you for those questions and I also want 128 00:12:56,580 --> 00:13:02,860 to just thank the Department for the hard work that they've done. This is like the 50-11th election 129 00:13:02,860 --> 00:13:07,260 We've had this year, literally every month. 130 00:13:07,420 --> 00:13:12,360 There's been an election, which is wild and a lot of work. 131 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:16,560 And they're gearing up now for Super Bowl in November. 132 00:13:17,700 --> 00:13:20,520 So, yeah, thank you for all your hard work. 133 00:13:20,560 --> 00:13:21,720 I don't have any other questions. 134 00:13:22,060 --> 00:13:23,240 I don't have any additional questions. 135 00:13:23,380 --> 00:13:27,140 So with that, I am going to ask for a motion to certify. 136 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:32,660 So moved. 137 00:13:34,830 --> 00:13:34,990 Second. 138 00:13:36,030 --> 00:13:37,070 Okay, I'll leave a favor. 139 00:13:37,070 --> 00:13:45,370 Hi. Okay, so I think we actually can, we don't need to adjourn, we can sign after the meeting. 140 00:13:45,870 --> 00:13:53,290 Just for the public, normally we would adjourn the meeting and sign, but because of the short nature of today's meeting, 141 00:13:53,710 --> 00:13:58,250 we don't need to do that. So legal team, do we have any executive session today? 142 00:13:59,390 --> 00:14:04,910 No need for executive session. Okay, great. Thank you. All right, so we're going to go into Board comments. 143 00:14:06,230 --> 00:14:08,970 Lastly, I'll start with you and we'll just work our way around. 144 00:14:09,950 --> 00:14:10,150 All right. 145 00:14:11,390 --> 00:14:15,070 I would like to thank the people who brought up the issue of the pledge of allegiance. 146 00:14:16,990 --> 00:14:22,270 And also the issue of proof of citizenship. 147 00:14:26,350 --> 00:14:32,150 The, I, as you know, I support saying the pledge of allegiance. 148 00:14:32,150 --> 00:14:46,710 and it puts our minds on the our duties here in advance of having our meetings. And also, 149 00:14:46,910 --> 00:14:52,530 I think it would be great if we could reconsider that motion. And so I support that. 150 00:14:56,590 --> 00:14:57,430 But 151 00:14:58,510 --> 00:14:59,890 It would be really good. 152 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:28,780 Good, assure the public that their driver's license that's done the real ID is sufficient. So they don't have to worry about getting all their papers back together because they most likely already done all that with the Department of Driver Services. So if we could just find out for sure, it would be great and we could let the public know. 153 00:15:28,780 --> 00:15:30,400 All right, thank you. 154 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:39,080 This moment. Thank you for the staff and 155 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:47,880 poll workers for another successful election. In response to the requests, 156 00:15:49,940 --> 00:15:53,120 I am regarding the pledge of allegiance. 157 00:15:55,800 --> 00:16:01,260 It's astounding to me that we are in an environment where 158 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:10,860 Our rights are being taken away every day, civil liberties are being threatened, children are 159 00:16:10,860 --> 00:16:18,720 dying of measles because we have a head of the HHS who endorses quackery. People can 160 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:25,480 increasingly not afford to pay for their lives, their lives, every time we step out of 161 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:35,580 house it costs money, just breathe. So when we have multiple people making complaints about 162 00:16:35,580 --> 00:16:40,020 reciting the pledge of allegiance, it feels like we have lost the plot. 163 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:44,440 Regarding the claim 164 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:51,540 that this is somehow unifying, I just want to remind you that our legislature convened in a 165 00:16:51,540 --> 00:16:57,100 special session this summer to take voting representation away from black people. 166 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:05,200 reciting the pledge of allegiance is not unifying and requesting it is offensive. 167 00:17:07,590 --> 00:17:16,390 I will not support it and I hope that it does not get brought up again until we can be assured that this country has pledged allegiance to all of its citizens and 168 00:17:16,390 --> 00:17:19,670 and treats all of us as Americans, which it does not 169 00:17:19,670 --> 00:17:20,570 never has. 170 00:17:22,730 --> 00:17:23,970 That's it. 171 00:17:25,070 --> 00:17:25,790 Mr. Ramad. 172 00:17:26,930 --> 00:17:31,660 I wanted to thank you to everybody who's been working so hard on this so many 173 00:17:32,190 --> 00:17:35,650 elections that we've had to run into Cap County this year. 174 00:17:36,410 --> 00:17:43,390 And then I also wanted to echo my colleagues remarks just now. 175 00:17:44,830 --> 00:17:45,190 I concur. 176 00:17:45,190 --> 00:17:46,110 I 177 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:59,100 don't know, thank everyone, thank the office, our legal team, DCTV, and everyone who joined us today. 178 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:05,060 I think this, this meeting is short and so we're going to end it with that. 179 00:18:05,260 --> 00:18:09,460 I concur with everything that has been said regarding the pledge of allegiance. 180 00:18:09,460 --> 00:18:19,860 I think that at this point of all the things we need to be concerned about, it certainly shouldn't be about something that you can say. 181 00:18:19,860 --> 00:18:27,220 at your, at your leisure. I think if anything, maybe we need to remind the public who 182 00:18:27,220 --> 00:18:38,080 won the 2020 election. And move on from there with respect to ID's Georgia ID is a real 183 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:45,540 ID, which is the federally required secure ID. It requires a certain level of documentation to 184 00:18:45,540 --> 00:18:52,920 receive it. There is no issue that I'm aware of with that ID not providing with valid 185 00:18:55,840 --> 00:19:00,600 improper citizenship or proof of citizenship and there's we should not there is no need 186 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:07,740 to have any additional requirements to vote. However, we look forward to continuing these discussions 187 00:19:07,740 --> 00:19:16,940 to ensure that we effectively operate and administer the elections going forward. We look forward to 188 00:19:16,940 --> 00:19:21,830 seeing you guys next month for our regular release scheduled meeting on September 10th. 189 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:30,710 We'll be continuing to do the work of this department and overseeing the work going forward 190 00:19:31,530 --> 00:19:36,930 towards the general election in November of this year. 191 00:19:37,250 --> 00:19:44,010 So thank you again, and I'm going to ask the board once we're adjourned to stay so that we can sign the certification documents. 192 00:19:45,010 --> 00:19:46,730 And look forward to seeing you guys next month. 193 00:19:46,790 --> 00:19:47,290 Thank you. 194 00:19:47,590 --> 00:19:49,630 With that, can I get a motion to adjourn? 195 00:19:49,810 --> 00:19:50,430 That's how I moved. 196 00:19:50,850 --> 00:19:51,050 Second. 197 00:19:51,330 --> 00:19:51,850 All in favor. 198 00:19:52,290 --> 00:19:52,630 Bye.