Forsyth County Board of Voter Registrations & Elections Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections Office  Regular Monthly Meeting December 5, 2023 at 9 a.m. 1201 Sawnee Drive Cumming, Georgia 30040 MINUTES  Present at the meeting: Joel Natt, Vice Chairman Carla Radzikinas, Secretary Dan Thalimer, Assistant Secretary Anita Tucker, Member Mandi Smith, Director  Bryce Wilson, Coordinator = Communications and Training  Carol Balcome, Assistant to the Director Karen Pachuta, Jarrard & Davis Absent from the meeting: Barbara Luth, Chairman  I.  Call Meeting to Order  Vice Chairman Natt called the meeting to order at 9 a.m.  II. Pledge of Allegiance III. Adoption of Agenda  Member Tucker with a second from Assistant Secretary Thalimer made a motion to adopt the agenda as published. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth absent.  IV. Adoption of Minutes  A. CertincationReguar meeting of November 14, 2023  Secretary Radzikinas with a second from Member Tucker made a motion to adopt the minutes as prepared by staff. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth  absent.  B. Special Called meeting of November 14, 2023  Member Tucker with a second from Assistant Secretary Thalimer made a motion to adopt the minutes as prepared by staff. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth  absent.    V. Old Business  A. Consideration of changes to precincta and polling places starting with the  2024 election cycle*  There were no public comments during the meeting.  Director Smith provided the Board a list of the public comments from the online Assistant Secretary Thalimer with a second from Secretary Radzikinas made a motion to enter the comments into the records. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Director Smith provided a brief summary of the proposed precinct and polling place changes as outlined in the public notice published on November 1 and November 8, 2023. Ifapproved the changes will result in the following: Increase in Election Day precincts and polling places from 28 to 29 The polling place for 07-Cumming precinct relocates from Cumming City Hall to the City of Cumming Recreation & Parks Event Center Concord Baptist Church has chosen to no longer serve as a polling place. Member Tucker with a second from Assistant Secretary Thalimer made a motion to endorse the precinct line changes as outlined in the public notice that was published on November 1 and November 8, 2023 and recognized that these changes are scheduled to be considered by the Board of Commissioners this Thursday, December 7. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth absent. Assistant Secretary Thalimer with a second from Member Tucker made a motion to approve the change to the 07-Cumming Election Day polling place from Cumming City Hall to the Cumming Recreation and Parks Department Event Center starting with the 2024 election cycle. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Assistant Secretary Thalimer with a second from Member Tucker made a motion to approve the addition of Hope Fellowship as the Election Day polling place for the newly proposed 51 Matt precinct contingent upon the approval of the precinct lines by the Board of Commissioners on Thursday, December 7. Motion carried Member Tucker with a second from Assistant Secretary Thalimer made a motion to approve the addition of Browns Bridge Church as the Election Day polling place for the newly proposed 50 Browns Bridge precinct contingent upon the approval of the precinct lines by the Board of Commissioners on Thursday, December 7. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth absent. The Board discussed whether to send a precinct card to the affected voters or send a letter outlining the changes. Director Smith said more than likely a letter  questionnaire regarding precinct and polling place changes.  Luth absent.  Three new polling places  Luth absent.  4-0 with Chairman Luth absent.    will be sent to affected voters given that we are not regularly receiving precinct cards from the Secretary of State (SOS) for mailing to voters. Member Tucker suggested an explanation be added to the letter regarding why Concord Baptist  Church is no longer a polling location.  VI. New Business  A. 2024 Board of Voter Registrations and Elections meeting calendar Director Smith presented a draft copy of the 2024 meeting dates.  Secretary Radzikinas with a second from Assistant Secretary Thalimer made a Director Smith asked the Board if they would be willing to change the January 2 Member Tucker with a second from Assistant Secretary Thalimer amended the motion and requested the January 2 meeting date move to January 3. Motion The original motion as amended carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth absent.  motion to adopt the 2024 calendar.  meeting date to January 3 due to the holidays.  carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth absent.  B. Voter Challenge Policy  Director Smith said she updated the policy to be consistent with the wording of 10-days versus two weeks. She also said 7 g. was added to the section regarding challenges pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-230 and removed from the section regarding challenges pursuant to O.C.G.A. 21-2-229.  Assistant Secretary Thalimer with a second from Member Tucker made a motion toa accept the changes to the Supplemental Process-Guidance for Voter Challenges Policy. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth absent.  VII. Director's Report  Director Smith and staff presented the Director's Report.  Voter Registrations & Elections Department  Director's Report December 5, 2023  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  Party  Took Office  Current  Current  Term Start Term End    Barbara Luth Joel E. Natt Anita Tucker Dan Thalimer  Chief Registrar & Chairperson Republican Democratic Democratic  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 staff/positions: 10 full-time (1 unfilled), 5 part-time (3 unfilled) and 3 interns. Legislation pendinglapproved bills)/Change to Election Code/State Election Board  The next SEB meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 19, 2023.  Election Information  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  November 7, 2023 City of Cumming Municipal General Election  The results of the November 7, 2023 City of Cumming Municipal General Election were certified by the BRE on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. All paperwork was submitted to the SOS and/or to the City of Cumming Clerk in the days following certification. An audit of the contest for City Council, Post 5 of the ballots cast in the election was conducted on November 14, 2023. The audit was conducted at the direction of the BRE to review processes and procedures for audits in future election cycles. The audit took approximately 3 hours to complete. All ballots cast were accounted for, and the audit verified that the hand-counted results matched the scanned results from election night. The Invoice fori the cost of conducting the election was sent toi the City Clerk on November  21, 2023. The total cost of conducting the election was $19,565.16.  Polling Places and Precincts  The proposed precinct and polling place changes effective starting with the 2024 election cycle are set to come before the BRE for a vote in today's meeting. The proposed changes were reviewed with the Board of Commissioners (BOC) on October 24, 2023 and with the BRE in last month's meeting on November 14. The legal notice of the proposed changes was published in the Forsyth County News on November 1 and November 8. A public input form was posted on our website and was available until December 4. The BOC will consider the proposed precinct line changes on December 7, 2023. There have been no changes to what was presented to the BRE last month. A summary of the proposed changes is as follows:  Ap portion of the voters currently assigned to the 04-Chestatee precinct will be reassigned  to the proposed new precinct of 50-Browns Bridge.    A 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 Aportion of 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 Ap 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. 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.  Bridge.  precinct of 50-Browns Bridge.  Browns Bridge.  isH 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 160twell 05 Coal Mountain 50 Browns Bridge 060 Crossroads 06 Crossroads 06C Crossroads  Estimated Total 877 3738 1606 775 1181 39  501 Browns Bridge 05 Coall Mountain 421 Keithl Bridge 501 Browns, Bridge    070 Cumming 070 Cumming 16 Otwell 160 Otwell 16 Otwell 27Concord 27Concord 27 Concord 421 Keith Bridge 441 Lanier 07Cumming*  160 Otwell 431 Lakeland 44Lanier 07 Cumming 50 Browns Bridge 050 Coall Mountain 06 Crossroads 51N Matt 50 Browns Bridge 50 Browns Bridge 07 Cumming*  1032 522 255 4238 2512 2823 1806 7404 852 1610 6193 37463  Estimated: number ofr registered votersi impacted byproposed precinct andy polling place changes *Thep precinct willi not change for thev voters already assignedt to 07-Cumming; however, thep pollingr place will change.  Polling place visits and mock election equipment setups continued during the month of November. Staff visited Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Greek Orthodox Church, Cumming Recreation and Parks Department Event Center, Browns Bridge Church, Chattahoochee River Club Clubhouse, Coal Mountain Park Community Building, Midway Park Community Building, and Windermere Lodge to review the setup for use of the 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 Per communication from the Parks and Recreation, Public Facilities and Capital Projects departments, as of December 2023, the park facility availability for polling places in 2024  Director's Report).  isas follows:  Coal Mountain Park Community Building  Available  The request to have the second door made available for regular use was  declined; can only serve as an emergency exit.  Midway Park Community Building Sawnee Mountain Park Community Building Certificate of Completion on 02/20/24 Sharon Springs Park Community Building Available through November 2024  O Available  Current schedule has substantial completion at 02/13/24 and obtaining the  The request to have the second door made available for regular use was  declined; can only serve as an emergency exit.  Fowler Park Recreation Center Old Atlanta Park Recreation Center  Available    Available  Central Park Recreation Center  - Pending to be available in the Spring 2024  Ethics Reporting /Candidate Qualifying  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 Affidavit of Exemption on file. The CCDR has a five-business day grace period extending  the due date without penalty to January 9, 2024.  Open Records Request(s) (ORR) Number in parenthesis indicates the number  from the same month last year  #re received b/w 11/01 - 11/30/2023 4 (23)  2023 Cumulative 2022 Cumulative 2021 Cumulative Budget/ Finance Voter Registration  50 109 48  List maintenance activities continue, and processing voter registration applications will resume after the certification of runoff elections taking place on December 5 is complete. As discussed in previous BRE meetings, our office mailed confirmation notices on September 28, 2023 to 4,327 Forsyth County voters due to National Change of Address (NCOA). There are two types of NCOA confirmation notices: moved out ofcounty and moved out of state (2,279 Out of County, 2,048 Out of State). The NCOA clock expired on Friday, November 17, 2023. Voters who did not respond to this notice by the expiration date were moved from active to inactive status. The voters on these lists will not be removed from the voter rolls. Any updated activity such as completing a voter registration application, voting, or responding to the  confirmation notice will update the voter's record to active status.  Voter Registration Statistics by Status: As of November 30, 2023  Countywide Total registered voters:  177,074(177,175) 158,834(163,349) 18,240(13,829) 4,207 3,711 496 139 94 20 13 12 414 0 414  Active voters: Inactive voters: Active voters: Inactive voters: Pending voters Total: Pending age Pending verification Pending 40-day clock Pending 26-month clock Challenged voters Total: Felon Voter challenge  City of Cumming Total registered voters:    Cancelled voters Total: Deceased Felon Hearing Mentally Incompetent Moved out of county Moved out of state Not verified Voter requested Notes:  402 83 0 135 0 Not available 184 0 0 0  No Activity for 2 General Election cycles  **As of December 1, 2023, the MOC Report has not been generated by the SOS  Office for the month of November. Election Equipment/Supplies  Routine charging and inventory of the touchscreens and printers are in progress. Routine In response to last month's request for a report regarding the impact of precinct changes on election equipment. Four additional ballot scanners and ballot boxes have been ordered to accommodate increasing from 28 to 29 Election Day polling places. This ensures each Election Day polling place is assigned a minimum of two ballot scanners and each Advance Voting location a minimum of three ballot scanners for the Presidential Preference Primary. Additional ballot scanners will be ordered in next year's budget but are not critical for the PPP. Our touchscreen, printer and poll pad inventory is sufficient to account for the increase in precincts  charging of ballot scanners and UPS units are ongoing currently.  for the PPP. S&TISoftware/Hardware Building Update Disaster Recovery Training/Outreach  On Wednesday, November 15, Director Smith and Coordinator Wilson spoke at a Teen Advisory On Wednesday, November 15, Director Smith, Coordinators Whyce, and Coordinator Wilson attended the Winter Weather Training hosted by the Emergency Management Agency (EMA). Director Smith, Coordinator Whyce, Coordinator Wilson, and one staff member attended Open One New Poll Worker Preview Session was held in November. There were 10 attendees and all 10 expressed an interest in continuing to become a poll worker for the 2024 election cycle. All poll workers who plan to work during the 2024 election cycle were asked to complete the necessary employment paperwork. To date, 379 workers have completed their paperwork and those sets of paperwork have been sent toi the Employment Services department for processing. The Georgia Association ofVoter Registration and Election Officials (GAVREO) annual training for the 2024 election cycle is scheduled for December 10 through December 13, 2023. The Director and two Coordinators plan to attend in person; BRE members plan to attend in person Inr response to last month's request for a report regarding the impact of precinct changes on poll workers, there is an estimated need of 16 additional poll workers for the 2024 election cycle to  Board (TAB) session at the Sharon Forks Library.  Records Training on various dates during November offered by the county.  Staff continue to work on planning and training for the upcoming elections.  or virtually.    accommodate the addition of an additional precinct. This includes 1 additional manager, 2  assistant managers, and a minimum of 13 clerks. Calendar for Poll Worker and Outreach Upcoming Events  December 7 December 18 December 28 January 4 2023 2024 January 1 January 15 May 27 July 4 September 2 November 11  New Poll Worker Preview Session New Poll Worker Preview Session New Poll Worker Preview Sessions New Poll Worker Preview Session  Calendar of Upcoming Events  December 25 &26 Christmas; county holiday; offices closed  New Year's Day; county holiday; offices closed Martin Luther King Jr Day; county holiday; offices closed Memorial Day; county holiday; offices closed Independence Day; county holiday; offices closed Labor Day; county holiday; offices closed Veteran's Day; county holiday; offices closed  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  VII. Hearings Pursuant to Georgia Election Code O.C.G.A. 21-2-229 and 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. 21-2-229 - September 11, 2023 Vice Chairman Natt stated there were nine voter challenges that were postponed from the last meeting because their challenge letter was forwarded to a new address. Vice Chairman Natt asked staff if there were any updates to the voter's Member Tucker with a second from Assistant Secretary Thalimer made a motion  Wexler Challenge (Postponed from 11/14/2023)  records. Staff said there were no updates.  to dismiss from the challenge the following voters:  Voter #34-1 Lois Palazzolo Voter #35 - Joseph Palazzolo Voter #74 - Hai-Ping Lee Voter #98 - Eugene Mechetti Voter #123 - Kaylie Olechoski Voter #170 - Annabeth McGahee Voter #182 - Christina Roupe Voter #185 - Jayla Bass    Voter #217 - Sundra Hunt  Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth absent.  B. 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 Secretary Radzikinas with a second from Assistant Secretary Thalimer made a  Wexler Challenge (Postponed from 11/14/2023) motion to uphold the challenge for the following voters:  Voter #34 - Lois Palazzolo Voter #35 - Joseph Palazzolo Voter #74 - Hai-Ping Lee Voter #98 - Eugene Mechetti Voter #123 - Kaylie Olechoski Voter #170 - Annabeth McGahee Voter #182 - Christina Roupe Voter #185 - Jayla Bass Voter #217 - Sundra Hunt  Motion failed 2-2 (Thalimer and Tucker opposed).  Secretary Radzikinas with a second from Assistant Secretary Thalimer made a motion to postpone the challenge for these nine voters until the January 3, 2024 meeting. Motion carried 3-1 with Member Tucker opposed and Chairman Luth  absent.  IX. Recess Regular Meeting  Assistant Secretary Thalimer with a second from Member Tucker made a motion to recess the meeting at 9:34 a.m. to enter into Executive Session for the purposes of legal and personnel. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth absent.  X.  Executive Session (if needed)  The Board entered into Executive Session at 9:34 a.m. and adjourned at 10:11 a.m. Vice Chairman stated there were no actions taken, decisions made or votes that  needed to be recorded into the minutes.  XI. Adjournment  Member Tucker with a second from Assistant Secretary Thalimer made a motion to adjourn at 10:12 a.m. Motion carried 4-0 with Chairman Luth absent.  *Public comments allowed for this agenda item.    The above and foregoing minutes are hereby certified as being correct and ordered recorded.  Today's Date:  January 3, 2024  abssats from alda3me-tis  Joel E. Natt, Vice Chairman Cacbobibug Carla Radzikinas, Secretary IBLE Daniel Thalimer, Assistant Secretary Diblcbn Anita Tucker, Member