Forsyth County Board of Voter Registrations & Elections Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections Office  Regular Monthly Meeting January 3, 2024 at9: a.m. 1201 Sawnee Drive Cumming, Georgia 30040 AGENDA  Present at the meeting: Barbara Luth, Chairman Joel Natt, Vice Chairman Carla Radzikinas, Secretary Anita Tucker, Member Mandi Smith, Director  Bryce Wilson, Coordinator - Communications and Training Jamain Whyce, Coordinator - Elections qupmentwarenouse  Carol Balcome, Assistant to the Director Karen Pachuta, Jarrard & Davis Patrick Jaugstetter, Jarrard & Davis Absent from the meeting: Dan Thalimer, Assistant Secretary Call Meeting to Order  I.  Chairman Luth called the meeting to order at 9 a.m.:  II.  Pledge of Allegiance III. Adoption of Agenda  Chairman Luth with a second from Vice Chairman Natt made a motion to add to the agenda New Business C - Discussion of Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes for the March 12, 2024 Presidential Preference Primary. Motion carried 4-0 with Assistant  Secretary Thalimer absent.  Vice Chairman Natt with a second from Member Tucker made a motion to postpone item V. Election of Officers until the February 6, 2024 meeting. Motion carried 4-0 Vice Chairman Natt with a second from Secretary Radzikinas made a motion to adopt the agenda as amended. Motion carried 4-0 with. Assistant Secretary Thalimer  with Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  absent.  IV. Executive Session    Vice Chairman Natt with a second from Member Tucker made a motion to recess the regular meeting and enter into Executive Session at 9:02 a.m. Motion carried 4-0 Vice Chairman Natt with a second from Secretary Radzikinas made a motion to come out of Executive Session at 9:15 a.m. Vice Chairman Natt stated the board was briefed on legal matters and no decisions were made. Motion carried 4-0 with  with Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  V. Election of Officers  Postponed until February 6, 2024.  VI. Adoption of Minutes  A. Regular meeting of December 5, 2023  Member Tucker with a second from Secretary Radzikinas made a motion to adopt the minutes as prepared by staff. Motion carried 3-0 with Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent and Chairman Luth abstaining as she was absent  from the December meeting.  VII. Old Business  A. Update on changes to precinct and polling places starting with the 2024  election cycle  Director Smith reported the BRE and the Board of Commissioners approved the proposed changes to the precincts and polling places in December. She said staff is ready to enter the changes in the statewide registration database but we are waiting on the State to resolve some issues before we can enter the  changes.  VIII. New Business  A. Statement regarding requests for Forsyth County to hand-count ballots for  the Presidential Preference Primary Chairman Luth read the following statement:  The Forsyth County Board of Voter Registrations and Elections is in receipt of several requests to hand-count each ballot casti in the March 12, 2024  Presidential Preference Primary.  Pursuant to O.C.G.A. $21-2-498, and changes to that law enacted in May 2023, the Board will conduct a risk-limiting manual audit of randomly sampled ballots following rules issued by the State Election Board. This audit will take place in view of the public. What percentage of ballots to audit will be determined by the state using statistical methods designed to limit the risk of certifying an incorrect    outcome. Essentially, the closer the margin between candidates, the higher the While the Board is aware that there are Forsyth County residents who wish to volunteer to hand-count ballots, state law places restrictions on ballot handling. In general, under state law and related case law, physical ballots are not open for general public inspection as they are considered under seal and under the custody of the Superior Court Clerk. In fact, pursuant to O.C.G.A. $21-2-574, iti is a felony for anyone other than authorized individuals to handle physical ballots outside of a polling place. O.C.G.A. S 21-2-483 specifies that the only individuals authorized to touch ballots, the ballot containers, and ballot paper are those individuals deputized and employed by the Board. These individuals undergo an employee onboarding procedure through Forsyth County Employment Services and, for the 2024 election year, will include a background check with the Georgia Crime Information Center. The individuals handling ballots are deputized and Unless the margins between candidates are close, the state mandated risk- limiting audit will likely consist of less than 100% of the ballots. Whether to hand- count a higher percentage of ballots will, in part, be determined by staffing levels and the election budget. On election day, election workers will have likely worked 15 hours or more. The Board does not intend on directing staff to hand-count ballots prior to transferring the ballots to the main Elections office. At this time, the Board does not plan on expending resources on performing a hand-count The Board is appreciative of community involvement and feedback in preparation for a smooth and successful 2024 election year. Furthermore, the Board is committed to adhering to all state laws and regulations and to be as transparent, open, and accountable as possible during the election process. Vice Chairman Natt with a second from Member Tucker made a motion to enter the statement as read into the minutes of the meeting. Motion carried 4-0 with B. Discussion of the Board of Registrations & Elections Rules Regarding Chairman Luth stated the BRE currently has rules for public comment. She asked the board if there were any suggested changes to the rules. Vice Chairman Natt stated the current rules were acceptable at the time they were adopted but are restrictive. He said we should explore neighboring county's Member Tucker stated she had seen the Gwinnett County policy on public comments. She said speakers were allowed three minutes each with a total of ten speakers for a 30-minute period and no dialogue with the board.  percentage of ballots that will be hand-counted.  take an oath prior to their service on behalf of the Board.  audit of all ballots.  Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  Public Comment  public comment policies.    Chairman Luth asked Director Smith to send the board a copy of Gwinnett's public comment policy and other county public comment policies to review. She said this item would be on the February BRE meeting agenda.  ADDED ITEM:  C.D Discussion of Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes for the March 12, 2024  Presidential Preference Primary  Vice Chairman Natt stated the statute requires we have an absentee ballot drop box at the Elections Office that is open only during Advance Voting hours. Vice Chairman Natt with a second from Secretary Radzikinas made a motion to have a single drop box located at the Elections Office for the March 12, 2024 Presidential Preference Primary that will be open during Advance Voting hours. Member Tucker asked if the hours the drop box is open be extended beyond Advance Voting hours. Attorney Pachuta said the state statute prohibits the drop The motion carried 3-1 with Member Tucker opposed and Assistant Secretary  box from being open beyond Advance Voting hours.  Thalimer absent.  IX. Director's Report  Director Smith and staff presented the Director's Report.  Voter Registrations & Elections Department  Director's Report January 3, 2024  Board Members  House Bill 837 was dropped on March 27, 2023 to amend the provisions relating to the start and end date of BRE members as it was set in HB 776. HB 837 will come before the General  Assembly in the 2024 session.  Board Member Barbara Luth Joel E. Natt Anita Tucker Dan Thalimer  Party Chief Registrar & Chairperson Republican Democratic Democratic  Took Office  Current  Current  Term Start Term End  04/02/2019* 07/01/2021 06/30/2025 02/03/2015* 09/01/2023 06/30/2027 03/01/2022* 09/01/2023 06/30/2027 04/04/2016* 09/01/2021 08/31/2025 09/01/2021 09/01/2021 08/31/2025  Carla Radzikinas Republican *Filled the unexpired term of outgoing member  Staff (SEB)  Current filled statt/positions: 10 full-time (1 unfilled), 4 part-time (4 unfilled) and 3 interns. Legislation Pendingapproved bills)/Change to Election Code/State Election Board  As of. January 2, 2024 the next SEB meeting date is not posted.    Election Information  November 7, 2023 City of Cumming Municipal General Election  The City remitted payment for the cost of the election and it was posted on December 6, 2023. The Invoice for the cost of conducting the election was sent to the City Clerk on November 21, 2023. The total cost of conducting the election was $19,565.16.  Upcoming election information  February 1: deadline for BOC to set candidate qualifying fees March 4-8: Candidate Qualifying for the May 2024 General Primary  March 12: Presidential Preference Primary  Advance Voting schedule (as was voted on by the BRE ini the 06/06/23 BRE meeting)  Elections Office ONLY  Week 1: 02/19-02/23, M-F Saturday: 02/24 Sunday: 02/25 Week 2: 02/26-03-01, M-F Saturday: 03/02 NO' Voting: Sunday, 03/03 Week 3: 03/04-03/08, M-F M-F: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat/Sun: 8 a.m. to 5p.m.  Elections Office, Hampton Park Library, Sharon Springs Park, Midway Park  Voting hours:  BRE will consider absentee ballot drop box location and hours for the PPP in today's meeting. The BRE voted to approve the proposed polling place changes in their December 5, 2023 meeting. The BOC voted to approve the proposed precinct line changes in their December 7,  Polling Places and Precincts  2023 meeting.  A summary of the approved changes are as follows:  A portion of the voters currently assigned to the 04-Chestatee precinct will be reassigned Ap portion of the voters currently assigned to the 05-Coal Mountain precinct will be reassigned to either 16-Otwell precinct or to the proposed new precinct of 50-Browns A portion oft the voters currently assigned to 06-Crossroads precinct will be reassigned to either 05-Coal Mountain precinct, 42-Keith Bridge precinct, or to the proposed new A portion of the voters currently assigned to 07-Cumming precinct will be reassigned to either 16-Otwell precinct or 43-Lakeland precinct. The polling place for the 07-Cumming precinct will relocate from Cumming City Hall located at 100 Main St, 30040 to Cumming Recreation & Parks Facility Event Center located at 437 Pilgrim Mill Rd, 30040.  to the proposed new precinct of 50-Browns Bridge.  Bridge.  precinct of 50-Browns Bridge.    Ap portion of the voters currently assigned to the 16-Otwell precinct will be reassigned to either 07-Cumming precinct, 44-Lanier precinct, or to the proposed new precinct of 50- The precinct name 27-Concord" will be retired, and Concord Baptist Church located at 6905 Concord Rd, 30028 will no longer serve as an Election Day polling place. The voters currently assigned to the 27-Concord precinct will be reassigned to 05-Coal Mountain precinct, 06-Crossroads precinct, or the proposed new precinct of 51-Matt. A portion of the voters currently assigned to the 42-Keith Bridge precinct will be reassigned to the proposed new precinct of 50-Browns Bridge. Ap portion of the voters currently assigned to the 44-Lanier precinct will be reassigned to the proposed new precinct of 50-Browns Bridge. The proposed new precinct of 51-Matt will be created by reassigning voters from the current 27-Concord precinct. The polling place for the proposed new precinct of 51-Matt The proposed new precinct of 50-Browns Bridge will be created by reassigning voters from the following current precincts: 04-Chestatee, 05-Coal Mountain, 06-Crossroads, 16-Otwell, 42-Keith Bridge and 44-Lanier. The polling place for the proposed new precinct of 50-Browns Bridge is Browns Bridge Church located at 3860 Browns Bridge The proposed changes will increase the number of Election Day polling places from 28 The proposed changes will remove two current polling places and add three new polling The proposed changes will reassign approximately 37,000 of Forsyth County's more than 177,000 registered voters to a different Election Day precinct/polling place.  Browns Bridge.  is Hope Fellowship located at 6230 Matt Hwy, 30028.  Rd, 30041. to29. places.  Estimated breakdown by precinctofvoters impacted by proposed changes Current Precinct Proposed! Precinct 04 Chestatee 05 Coall Mountain 16 Otwell 05 Coall Mountain 501 Browns. Bridge 060 Crossroads 06Crossroads 060 Crossroads 07Cumming 07Cumming 16 Otwell 160twell 16 Otwell 27Concord 27Concord 27Concord 42Keith Bridge  Estimated Total 877 3738 1606 775 1181 39 1032 522 255 4238 2512 2823 1806 7404 852  501 Browns Bridge 05Coal Mountain 421 Keith) Bridge 501 Browns! Bridge 160 Otwell 431 Lakeland 441 Lanier 070 Cumming 501 Browns Bridge 05 Coall Mountain 06 Crossroads 51Matt 501 Browns Bridge    441 Lanier 07Cumming*  501 Browns! Bridge 07 Cumming*  1610 6193 37463  Estimatedi number ofi registered votersi impacted byproposed precinct and polling placec changes *Thep precinct willr noto changei fort the voters already assignedt to 07-Cumming however, thep polling place willo change.  Polling place visits and mock election equipment setups continued during the month of December. Staff visited Johns Creek Baptist Church and Lanier United Methodist Church to review the setup for use of thei facilities as polling places during the 2024 Election Cycle. Department of Parks and Recreation (formerly a recurring line item on the monthly BRE Agenda titled: Parks and Recreation Architectural Design Liaison; as of December 2023 this topic is part of the Director's Report). Campaign Contribution Disclosure Reports (CCDR) are due for the July 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023 reporting period on December 31, 2023 for all elected officials who do not have a valid $2500 Affidavit of Exemption on file. The CCDR has a five-business day grace period extending Candidates and elected officials who intend to qualify for a local contest during this year's candidate qualifying period, March 4 - 8, 2024, are classified as being in their election year.' Those in their election year will follow the State Ethics Commission Election Year schedule. Elected officials who do not intend to qualify to run for an office in 2024 are in their non-election  Ethics Reporting /Candidate Qualifying  the due date without penalty to January 9, 2024.  year' and will follow the State Ethics Commission Non-Election Year schedule.  2024 CCDR Due Dates: Election Year  January 31 April 30 June 30 September 30 October 25 December 31 June 30 December 31  five-business day grace period five-business day grace period. five-business day grace period five-business day grace period. five-business day grace period five-business day grace period. five-business day grace period five-business day grace period.  2024 CCDR Due Dates: Non-Election Year  Personal Finance Disclosure Statements (PFDS) are financials reports for the previous  calendar year. PFDSS do not have a grace period. 2024 PFDS Filing Period: Election Year 2024 PFDS Filing Period: Non-Election Year  January 1, 2024 = 15 days after the day the candidate qualifies to run for office  January 1, 2024 - July 1, 2024  Open Records Request(s) (ORR) Number in parenthesis indicates the number  from the same month last year  #received b/w 12/01 - 12/31/2023 1 (5)  2023 Cumulative  51    2022 Cumulative 2021 Cumulative Budget/Finance Voter Registration  109 48  Voter registration processing and list maintenance activities resumed in the month of December As of January 2, 2024, the precinct and polling place changes have not yet been updated in GARVIS, the statewide voter registration system. The Director is working with the SOS staff on  2023 after the conclusion of the December Runoffs in other counties.  the updates.  Voter Registration Statistics by Status: As of January 2, 2024  Countywide Total registered voters:  178,205 (176,697) 160,792 (162,992) 17,413 (13,705) 4,320 3,844 476 310 181 56 59 431 25 406 410 154 0 0 0 Not available 240 0 0 16  Active voters: Inactive voters: Active voters: Inactive voters: Pending voters Total: Pending age Pending verification Pending citizenship Challenged voters Total: Felon Voter challenge Cancelled voters Total: Deceased Felon Hearing Mentally Incompetent Moved out of county Moved out of state Not verified Voter requested Notes:  City of Cumming Total registered voters:  Pending missing/ncomplete/incorrect information 14  No Activity for 2 General Election cycles  "AsofJanuary 1, 2024, the MOC Report has not been generated by the SOS Office ***Edited the pending voter section of this table to remove the reference to 40-day or The revised FCBRE Supplemental Process-Guidance for Voter Challenges (as approved in the December 5 BRE meeting) was posted to our department's website on December 7, 2023. There were several voter challenges postponed from the December 5, 2023 BRE meeting to  for the month of December. 26-month clock.  be addressed in today's meeting.    Election Equipment/Supplies  Routine charging and inventory of the touchscreens and printers are in progress. Routine The process to purchase additional ballot scanners and ballot boxes is underway. The purchase agreement submitted to us by Dominion is undergoing legal review. The contract will need to  charging of ballot scanners and UPS units are ongoing currently. appear before the Board of Commissioners (BOC) for final approval.  S&T/Software/Hardware Building Update Disaster Recovery Training/Outreach  The 2024 Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) availability form was sent to the 565 poll workers on our active poll worker list. As of December 28, 343 poll workers have responded. All poll workers who plan to work during the 2024 election cycle were asked to complete the necessary employment paperwork. To date, 415 workers have completed their paperwork and those sets of paperwork have been sent to the Employment Services department for processing. Four New Poll Worker Preview Sessions were held in December. There were 28 attendees and 27 expressed an interest in continuing to become a poll worker for the 2024 election cycle. The Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials (GAVREO) annual training conference for the 2024 election cycle was held from December 10 through December 13, 2023. The Director, two Coordinators, and one board member attended the session in person and the remaining staff and board members attended virtually. Director Smith served as the GAVREO Immediate Past President and gave a presentation on Basic Training: Roles and Responsiblilities. Coordinator Wilson gave a presentation on Poll Worker Training. The 2024 Poll Worker Kickoff Event is scheduled for this weekend. All poll workers who plan to work during the 2024 election cycle has been invited to attend. The kickoff event is for all poll workers to meet one another, meet office staff, and an opportunity for us to thank everyone for The training schedule for the PPP has been set. Staff continues to prepare training for the  their commitment to the elections process.  upcoming elections. January 4  Calendar for Poll Worker and Outreach Upcoming Events  New Poll Worker Preview Session  Calendar of Upcoming Events  2024 Election Dates (dates calculated internally; SOS has posted with some outstanding  questions regarding events that fall on holidays)  March 4-8: Candidate Qualifying for the May 2024 General Primary  March 12: Presidential Preference Primary May 21: General Primary June 18: General Primary Runoff November 5: General Election December 3: General Election Runoff  2024 January 3 January 15 February 6  BRE regular monthly meeting BRE regular monthly meeting  Martin Luther King Jr Day; county holiday; offices closed    March 5 April 2 May 7 May 27 June 4 July 2 July 4 August 6 September 2 September 3 October 1 November 11 November 12 December 10  BRE regular monthly meeting BRE regular monthly meeting BRE regular monthly meeting Memorial Day; county holiday; offices closed BRE regular monthly meeting BRE regular monthly meeting Independence Day; county holiday; offices closed BRE regular monthly meeting Labor Day; county holiday; offices closed BRE regular monthly meeting BRE regular monthly meeting Veteran's Day; county holiday; offices closed BRE regular monthly meeting BRE regular monthly meeting  November 28 &29 Thanksgiving; county holiday; offices closed December 24 &25 Christmas; county holiday; offices closed  Respectfully Submitted, Mandi Smith  Director, Voter Registrations and Elections  X. Hearings Pursuant to Georgia Election Code O.C.G.A. 21-2-230  A. Hear challenges to the qualification of voters and their eligibility to vote pursuant to Georgia Election Code O.C.G.A. 21-2-230 - September 11, 2023 Wexler Challenge (Postponed from 11/14/2023 and 12/05/2023) Chairman Luth stated the challenges were postponed from the November 14 and December 5 BRE meetings. She said of the nine names on the list only one has Vice Chairman Natt with a second from Secretary Radzikinas made a motion to dismiss from the challenge voter #217 Sundra Hunt. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth with a second from Vice Chairman Natt made a motion to uphold the challenge for voter #34 Lois Palazzolo. Motion carried 3-1 with Member Chairman Luth with a second from Vice Chairman Natt made a motion to uphold the challenge for voter #35 Joseph Palazzolo. Motion carried 3-1 with Member Chairman Luth with a second from Vice Chairman Natt made a motion to uphold the challenge for voter #74 Hai-Ping Lee. Motion carried 3-1 with Member Tucker  recently been canceled because they moved out of state.  Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  Tucker opposed and Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  Tucker opposed and Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  opposed and Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.    Chairman Luth with a second from Vice Chairman Natt made a motion to uphold the challenge for voter #98 Eugene Mechetti. Motion carried 3-1 with Member Chairman Luth with a second from Vice Chairman Natt made a motion to uphold the challenge for voter #123 Kaylie Olechoski. Motion carried 3-1 with Member Chairman Luth with a second from Vice Chairman Natt made a motion to uphold the challenge for voter #170 Annabeth McGahee. Motion carried 3-1 with Member Tucker opposed and Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  Tucker opposed and Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  Tucker opposed and Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  Chairman Luth with a second from Vice Chairman Natt made a motion to uphold the challenge for voter #182 Christina Roupe. Motion carried 3-1 with Member Chairman Luth with a second from Vice Chairman Natt made a motion to uphold the challenge for voter #185 Jayla Bass. Motion carried 3-1 with Member Tucker  Tucker opposed and Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  opposed and Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  XI. Recess Regular Meeting  Vice Chairman Natt with a second from Secretary Radzikinas made a motion to recess and enter into Executive Session at 9:44 a.m. to discuss personnel matters.  Motion carried 4-0 with. Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  XII. Executive Session (if needed)  Chairman Luth with a second from Vice Chairman Natt made a motion to come out of Executive Session at 10:23 a.m. Motion carried 4-0 with Assistant Secretary Vice Chairman Natt stated there were no votes taken or decisions made by the  Thalimer absent.  board on personnel matters during Executive Session.  XIII. Adjournment  Vice Chairman Natt with a second from Chairman Luth made a motion to adjourn at 10:24 am. Motion carried 4-0 with Assistant Secretary Thalimer absent.  The above and foregoing minutes are hereby certified as being correct and ordered recorded.  Today's Date:  February 6, 2024  Bosar 1 Barbara Luth, Chairman    AhiD  Joel E(Natt, Vice Chairman Carla Radzikinas, Secretary 2-15410 Daniel Thalimer, Assistant Secretary ATch Anita Tucker, Member  ClRbbas