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Big overhaul planned for Georgia elections: Bills aired in state Legislature’s waning days

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3 months ago

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georgiarecorder.com – Stanley Dunlap – 2025-03-27 00:00:00

by Stanley Dunlap, Georgia Recorder
March 27, 2025

Sweeping changes to election rules intended to increase paper ballot options, expand the powers of the State Election Board and remove the state from a voter registration sharing database are up for debate as the 2025 Georgia Legislature nears a close.

The Senate Ethics Committee held a two hour hearing on the latest version of House Bill 397, which could mandate big changes to Georgia election procedures if signed into law. No vote was taken on the bill sponsored by Covington Republican Rep. Tim Fleming.

The Republican backed election bill would prohibit Georgia from sharing voter information with third-party groups like the current participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center, known as ERIC The partnership allows  Georgia to share updated voter rolls with 24 other states.

Under HB 397, the Georgia elections board would evaluate the procedures and policies for withdrawing from ERIC. and provide recommendations to the Senate Ethics Committee and the House Governmental Affairs Committee by the end of this year.

It would also give the Secretary of State the authority to make agreements with other states to share voter roll data.

Secretary of State election officials asked legislators Wednesday to reconsider banning the state from participating in a multistate database  they say helps efficiently maintain accurate voter rolls.

Charlene McGowan, general counsel for the Georgia Secretary of State, said the proposals in HB 397 could undermine the states’ ability to conduct meaningful and secure data matching with other states, whether it be through a state to state agreement or a multi state compact.

“This bill does severely restrict the Secretary’s ability to share information, such as driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers with other states,” she said. “The problem with that is that states rely on that type of information in order to conduct accurate matching.”

The bill’s Republican sponsors were also urged by the statewide association of county election officials to make changes to the bill that would require hand counting of ballots as voting precincts are closing down for the day.

Fulton County is home to more than 750,000 registered voters, according to the secretary of state office’s website. State law requires that local election superintendents report to the secretary of state and post publicly the total number of ballots cast both on Election Day and during early voting, including absentee ballots.

Rebecca Anglin, the election director in Greene County, expressed concerns about the chain of custody and hand count of paper ballots at the precinct level, emphasizing the need for secure handling and timely reporting.

Bill offers more power to State Election Board

The election overhaul legislation proposes giving the State Election Board more independence from the secretary of state’s office by moving its administration under the state accounting office.

The controversial state GOP-controlled board that is now controlled by three supporters of President Donald Trump could also be the body to hear appeals to a controversial mass voter challenge after  complaints are settled by county election boards.

“This will allow for faster adjudication. If  you start with them and then you disagree with the decision, then you’ll  go to the superior court,” Fleming said.

Georgia Republican Party District Chairman Brad Carver said it’s important that the State Election Board gets enough backing from the state to be fully staffed  to afford more investigators and other support positions that  can trim case backlogs and handle new roles “

He mentioned the significant expenses associated with voter challenges going to superior courts instead of election officials.

Georgia election board majority that was praised by Trump resumes rulemaking push this week

“If you have an appellate authority in the State Election Board, you will have more consistent application to make sure that the laws are followed across the state by all 159 counties,” Carver said.

Another provision expands board duties to allow custody of all state investigative reports and communications between the secretary of state and election superintendents.

Fleming said the bill seeks to restore more autonomy to the state board that enforces election rule compliance.

“The State Election Board handles elections investigations and complaints, and having access to this information is necessary for them to do their job and for adjudication purposes,” Fleming said., “This continues to return autonomy to the State Election Board.”

State election officials could also spell out their rulemaking powers with proposed yearround authority to adopt election rules so long as they don’t take effect within 60 days of an election.

Paper ballot bill clears committee

The Senate Ethics Committee  passed a bill Wednesday that would allow Georgia voters to cast a hand marked paper ballot at polling places during early voting and on Election Day.

The Senate Ethics Committee voted Wednesday in favor of Senate Bill 214, a proposal to give voters the ability to cast their votes in polling places using pen or pencils, which can now be used to complete absentee ballots.

Sylvania Republican Max Burns’ said the legislation gives voters during early voting and election days the  option of paper ballots or the electronic touchscreen system that’s been used for statewide elections since 2020.

“At the end of the day 214 is designed to provide us a path forward beyond the current environment and move to paper ballot  hand marked paper ballot systems tabulated with an optical scan and then supported by a print on demand ballot system,” Burns said

Burns said he expects modifications to the bill as he tries to usher it through the legislative process.

Republican Sen. Max Burns and Sen. Marty Harbin, a Tyrone Republican, cast votes at a March 26 committee meeting in favor of Burns’ paper ballots bill. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder

If Burns can get his bill signed into law it will mark a big win for a movement that has long contended that hand marked paper ballots are a more transparent and safer than electronic machines.

The state’s electronic Dominion Voting  System was rolled out statewide in 2019, but by that time the state was already involved in a legal battle with Coalition for Good Governance and other plaintiffs who argue that hand-marking ballots is the safest way to vote.

The debate over electronic voting machines versus paper ballots later became the of focus of conspiracy theorists who blamed the Dominion’s system for Republican President Donald Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in 2020.

Over the last couple of years, a prominent pro- paper ballot movement.has been led by VoterGa, a largely pro-Trump faction that has urged people to request that state officials get rid of the electronic voting system.

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has defended the security of the voting machine system.

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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

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Rising utility bills, clean energy on the minds of Georgia voters as they choose energy regulators

Published

4 hours ago

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June 17, 2025

By

georgiarecorder.com – Stanley Dunlap – 2025-06-17 02:00:00


Two Georgia Public Service Commission seats are on the ballot for the first time since 2020, following delays from a voting rights lawsuit. Voter turnout remains low, with only 1% participation after three weeks of early voting. Frustration over rising Georgia Power rates, fossil fuel use, and environmental concerns is fueling interest. The Democratic District 3 race includes Keisha Waites, Peter Hubbard, and Robert Jones. A runoff may occur if no candidate wins over 50%. Republican incumbent Tim Echols faces Lee Muns in District 2. Winners will serve shorter terms and face major energy policy decisions, including a proposed rate freeze.

by Stanley Dunlap, Georgia Recorder
June 17, 2025

Clayton County father of three Arterio Clements said he felt sticker shock after receiving a $400 electric bill while also paying more for other expenses such as homeowner’s insurance.

The 46-year-old Riverdale resident voted Friday for Robert Jones, a former utility executive in California in the Democratic primary for the Georgia Public Service Commission. But he said he will support whoever the Democratic nominee is this fall.

“I can’t believe how much my bill has gone up,” Clements said. “I’m doing everything I can to save money. Nothing’s going to change unless we can send a message (this) election.”

Clements’ frustration is common among many Georgians who have watched state regulators approve a series of Georgia Power rate hikes and sign off on the utility’s increased reliance on fossil fuel sources in recent years.

The Clayton County Board of Elections Registrations welcomed residents during three weeks of early voting. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder

Even so, turnout has been ultra low in the primary election for a pair of commission races on the ballot this year. After three weeks of early voting, turnout sits at 1% – with about 75,000 voters casting a ballot so far. Tuesday is the last chance to vote in the primaries.

This year’s commission races represent the first time since 2020 that voters will have a chance to change the makeup of the panel. The elections were delayed for several years due to a lawsuit challenging the statewide method for the district-based seats, which plaintiffs argued dilutes the strength of Black voters.

The commissioners have faced criticism for allowing Georgia Power to raise rates by an average of $43 per month since 2023.

Georgians who vote Tuesday will need to choose a Democratic or Republican ballot.

Unsure where your polling place is? You can check here.

Georgia’s polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the Republican and Democratic primaries that will decide who will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.

A runoff will be held July 15 between the top two vote-getters in the Democratic District 3 race if nobody receives more than 50% of votes Tuesday.

The winners of November’s election will begin their term in a year when commissioners are expected to consider requests from Georgia Power to recoup costs from storm damage and overrun fuel costs. These expenses fall outside of the proposed rate freeze announced last month.

On Tuesday’s District 3 Democratic primary ballot, three candidates are vying to challenge Republican Commissioner Fitz Johnson later this year. The Democratic candidates are Keisha Waites, a former Atlanta City Council member and ex-state representative; Peter Hubbard, founder of the clean nonprofit Center for Energy Solutions; and Robert Jones, a former utility executive in California.

Commissioners are normally elected to six-year terms, but the winners in this year’s elections will serve shorter terms to get things back on schedule after the delay. The District 3 winner will be up for election again next year, while the District 2 seat is set to go back up in 2030.

Candidates must live in a given district but are elected statewide, meaning Georgians across the state decide who represents a district on the commission.

In the District 2 Republican primary, incumbent Commissioner Tim Echols is seeking re-election to serve a third term against Lee Muns. The winner of the GOP primary will face Savannah Democrat Alicia M. Johnson in November. District 2 includes a large swath of east Georgia.

Georgia Public Service Commissioners Fitz Johnson, left, and Tim Echols listen to expert witnesses testify at May 27 hearing for Georgia Power’s 2025 long-term energy plans. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder

The metro Atlanta Democratic primary was upended June 11 when likely frontrunner Daniel Blackman was disqualified for not meeting the commission’s residency requirement. Candidates must live within the boundaries of the district for 12 months to be eligible to run for office.

The ruling means that Blackman’s votes will not be counted, potentially resulting in thousands of ballots being discarded. Voters in Georgia will be notified of Blackman’s eligibility by signs posted in voting precincts Tuesday.

In 2020, Blackman came close to winning a seat on the commission, later going on to serve as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Southeast regional administrator under the Biden administration.

Atlanta’s Joe Hornbuckle said he was aware of Blackman’s ineligibility when he voted Friday in the Democratic primary. The EMT said he’s worried about the long-term damage to the environment if state regulators allow Georgia Power to continue investing in fossil fuel energy sources.

“Why are we still using coal if there’s a way for other options that would be better,” Hornbuckle said. “I’m not the biggest expert on something like this but it makes sense to me.”

Later this summer, the commission will make key decisions on Georgia Power’s plan to invest heavily in fossil fuels and renewable energy to meet what the utility says is its forecasted demand, which is primarily driven by data centers.

Additionally, the commission is set to hold a June hearing on Georgia Power’s request to freeze its base electric rates for the next three years.

Kennesaw State University professor of political science and former Cobb County Republican Party Chair Jason Shepherd said the low turnout is disappointing but understandable, considering the election centers on a utility commission that’s not well known statewide by the average person.

Shepherd said he voted for Echols because of Echols’ efforts to promote the state’s solar and electric vehicle industries.

“Having a market-based view of green energy, rather than having the government force the hand, helps create all the incentives that allow for innovation,” Shepherd said Monday. “In addition, yes, it took forever to get Plant Vogtle online after overrun costs, but it finally happened, and that’s going to secure Georgia’s energy supply for the next several decades.”

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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jill Nolin for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

The post Rising utility bills, clean energy on the minds of Georgia voters as they choose energy regulators appeared first on georgiarecorder.com


Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

This content leans toward a center-left perspective as it highlights voter concerns about rising utility costs and the approval of rate hikes by regulatory commissioners, while giving attention to Democratic candidates advocating for change and clean energy solutions. The article provides critical views of fossil fuel reliance and features voters expressing frustration with current policies. However, it also includes balanced input from a Republican commissioner supporting market-based green energy initiatives, suggesting an effort at fair coverage while maintaining a slight left-leaning emphasis on consumer protection and environmental issues.

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Kayak safety, staying safe this summer

Published

7 hours ago

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June 16, 2025

By

www.wjbf.com – Isabella Moody – 2025-06-16 23:01:00

SUMMARY: As kayaking gains popularity in Augusta, safety remains a top priority, especially during the summer. Steve Wright, owner of Savannah Rapids Kayak, emphasizes the importance of knowing your route, being comfortable in water, knowing how to swim, staying hydrated, and wearing sun protection. Savannah Rapids offers two routes: a calm canal for beginners and families, and a more challenging upriver path for experienced paddlers. Life jackets are legally required, and matching kayaks to individuals is standard practice. Wright advises learning proper paddling techniques and considering a guide for rapids. On-site staff and emergency support are available for added safety.

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The post Kayak safety, staying safe this summer appeared first on www.wjbf.com

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President Trump pushes ICE to focus on major cities

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12 hours ago

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June 16, 2025

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www.youtube.com – FOX 5 Atlanta – 2025-06-16 18:04:09

SUMMARY: President Trump announced that ICE will intensify arrests and deportations in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, aiming for the largest mass deportation program in history. This follows nationwide protests, including in Atlanta and New York, against his immigration policies during the “No Kings” rallies. ICE’s daily arrest target has increased from 650 to 3,000. New York City Mayor Adams supports these efforts, highlighting that 79% of Democrats agree undocumented individuals who commit crimes should be deported after serving time. Trump also paused planned raids on hotels, restaurants, and farms to avoid economic disruption.

President Donald Trump on Sunday said ICE must “expand efforts to detain and deport” illegal immigrants in “America’s largest cities,” including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York

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