[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6253043,"mediaKeyId","3183584-0e7c8121060b3ed0e990d04347cf95cc","parentId",3183584,"title","Board asks staff to research legality of virtual pre-certification meetings","audioSeconds",22,"startMs",602084,"endMs",624600,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183584-0e7c8121060b3ed0e990d04347cf95cc&start=602&end=624","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183584-0e7c8121060b3ed0e990d04347cf95cc/thumbnail_602084.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6253043/Cobb-County/Georgia/Board-asks-staff-to-research-legality-of-virtual-pre-certification-meetings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253043-90fa7d4b58fe28ec7f9bc07713ee1c5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889500&Signature=EeaVYl4Qoi4zePPBIVr5KVnmjOWPRj3Q3HSaAlCVQRTPueKDNGdJllVVVvVcsFSY1ZzpQdBLe1ON8~W93peGwdCkzINHD89wgPM9pRiUWDmL4p~Pt1jpk-5Y9xg-dgCEcDpFyGYiudZkR3i2INeyOE6JQEWIBiEmOK-Em6NNEp9-onfjx4nW9YIWqmVq8t44QyxYn0-nVZmZPYhxZ2lTA7MtGmED-15kwmsIcOHkaoM4WACE3fl49yYZrQLsOIa1FhkUNyimFMowuonxUTNKTHPWW0ZYJllPtqpzzKD5jBJ7oKNWO0qUO77GMaWXBi6oeRMI6q9BI8ZpSsJzdJjybQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-03T00:47:53.717Z","article","At the Cobb County Board of Elections pre-certification meeting a board member asked staff to investigate whether smaller pre-certification meetings could be held virtually.

The request prompted discussion about legal authority and public access. One board member said the state’s election board has conducted substantive meetings virtually during and after the pandemic. Daniel, identified in the discussion by name, replied repeatedly that he would research the issue and provide a legal opinion: \"I'll look,\" he said when asked to investigate whether pre-certification meetings could be held remotely. Board members noted that any shift to virtual meetings would need to preserve public access and transparency; staff suggested continuing to broadcast while exploring options.

Members agreed not to mandate virtual sessions for all statewide matters; one board member said statewide meetings such as public service commission certification or other large, statewide items should remain in person. The request to Daniel was recorded as a direction to staff to evaluate the legal framework for virtual pre-certification meetings and report back to the board.

No formal vote occurred on the question; the item was recorded as a staff assignment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration Meeting - 05/02/25","oneSentenceSummary","A board member asked staff to investigate whether pre-certification meetings may be held virtually; staff cited pandemic-era loosening and said they would seek a legal opinion and report back.","taxTitle","Cobb County, Georgia","taxId",3733,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253048,"Cobb County board members debate reducing precincts; staff proposes phased, data-driven approach",442,746505,1188900,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183584-0e7c8121060b3ed0e990d04347cf95cc&start=746&end=1188","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183584-0e7c8121060b3ed0e990d04347cf95cc/thumbnail_746505.jpg","/articles/6253048/Cobb-County/Georgia/Cobb-County-board-members-debate-reducing-precincts-staff-proposes-phased-data-driven-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253048-647d349a69bcf14fcf3d12066546df0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889500&Signature=GzjpMhp8E5dm1smnWhVQ3lEZ5CsjQSnHd8foATGkhaNpjR5F6vDiVDvH~h8~8JEXCS3IATdqJpbuoA~k7z6zkXohQVVHLGA9IvXMbC2dLPkwnOT2VIZjwN-SGuVBsvHmhOj-7K9gf4rbfMIixchUe0pAMBxbTtVk8~Yh6hiQyNSCnhr73FiRE0kV2pBV5EsXvDi8dx~opc1KD5UoZC-v1hq9DCp2JPu0s1yWqZM2-WM7dswqdIbFj869LgtgvUirE2zOKKNhGMmhLOPZaNRfLkHaADpC3xEI6L-1~VT86mO-aKFhyBXIFp1BC9zenk-AoaF9HTWUzbnWtzHuueSzpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members at the Cobb County pre-certification meeting discussed potential consolidation of precincts and emphasized a cautious, data-driven approach rather than an across-the-board cut.

One board member said, \"A 48 precincts is just ridiculous,\" and others agreed the current distribution should be examined. Staff replied that any consolidation should be phased and supported by a formula that accounts for historic turnout, registered-voter counts, machine capacity and site surveys. The staff explanation listed the factors used in site selection: registered voters, turnout across past cycles, room dimensions and how many machines the location can hold, parking availability, school schedules, and poll-manager wait-time logs.

Board members and staff discussed that a future transition to hand-marked paper ballots would reduce equipment needs — leaving mainly scanners and ADA machines — and therefore materially change how precincts are allocated. They also noted uncertainty about pending state-level changes, including proposals to restrict no-excuse absentee or advanced voting. One board member warned that if no-excuse absentee voting were curtailed, Election Day turnout could rise and the county might need more precincts, not fewer.

Staff said the county is not planning large \"super precincts\" that would consolidate broad geographic areas into a single massive site; instead, any combined site would likely merge no more than three precincts at a time. Staff emphasized municipal rules in places such as Smyrna can affect whether locations can be combined, and that final precinct boundary decisions rest with the Cobb County Board of Commissioners after staff and board review.

No formal vote took place; the discussion was recorded as direction to use a tiered, formula-based approach if consolidation proceeds and to maintain caution pending changes at the state level.","Board members discussed plans to reduce the county's number of precincts, favoring a phased approach guided by turnout history, site surveys and machine/formula rules and cautioning against sweeping changes before possible state legislative changes.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6253053,"Cobb County elections staff preview provisional ballots, set risk-limiting audit for May 6",96,260765,357000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3183584-0e7c8121060b3ed0e990d04347cf95cc&start=260&end=357","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3183584-0e7c8121060b3ed0e990d04347cf95cc/thumbnail_260765.jpg","/articles/6253053/Cobb-County/Georgia/Cobb-County-elections-staff-preview-provisional-ballots-set-risk-limiting-audit-for-May-6","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253053-f45a48468f0da20aa836c3a1cb91a36e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889500&Signature=Z2KFv8GeH8z1cJSFRDq~39fcLWlA1IdDAmnZlAbtU8IqTBgz5P7GDykqV3yYLpIxJJglAyHpJkAxsF9aLDIfUbbH7mStP5j2fQv-47zrTbrSDJ-VtmVpJrqaiv5veZ28~gh43E-IYWrXjOjLce3Rjer1NtXwtdXHhlb-gIqHC1OraMGjohlS5mLgv3Sb8vy6148Y3Pb5l4jG88gFcLZYCBTz2H0pgttYbyvGWCeJ1DMJmCgRsp9xrSUaRzNxMYcVVCl5Q516OwmLLAFRCnbsxBmQPjtwq2jaPan8UVlUY7-VDVxAp7fdQHNO~CyTLb4iCoABsC8u4sFCH2ComTygyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration convened a pre-certification meeting at 3:02 p.m. to review outstanding provisional ballots, the timeline for final results and an upcoming risk-limiting audit.

Elections staff told the board there were 23 provisional ballots from Election Day: 20 marked out-of-precinct that will be duplicated, two recorded for other reasons and one pending an identification cure. Three additional absentee-by-mail cures remained outstanding; those voters had until 5 p.m. to complete the cure process. Staff said panels to process the provisional ballots were scheduled to arrive at 4:30 p.m.

The item matters because the board must resolve provisional ballots and upload complete results before formal certification. Elections staff said they planned to upload the final, complete results Monday morning ahead of the board’s certification meeting.

Elections staff also told the board that the county’s risk-limiting audit (RLA) is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the elections office. \"Our RLA is going to be next Tuesday, May 6, from 9 to 5,\" staff said. The audit will use six teams; the political parties have been notified and may each send six designees. Staff said there would be an open viewing area for members of the public.

On turnout figures, staff reported an Election Day count of 10,066 ballots cast (reported as 4.19% on the summary sheets), advanced voting of 6,217 (2.59%), and absentee-by-mail at 63 (0.07%). Including provisionals not yet adjudicated, staff reported a preliminary grand total of 16,446 (6.84%). The staff-provided summary also showed turnout by district, with District 2 at 8.25% and District 4 at 5.61%.

Staff noted that the internal materials distributed to board members include a 29-page Statement of Votes Cast PDF, an election summary report, ePulse numbered lists, and a Jarvis voter participation spreadsheet broken out by ballot type. Staff said the ePulse AIP numbered list is for internal use and not for publication.

No formal changes to the results schedule were made at the meeting. The board approved the meeting agenda at the start of the session; Mr. Bruning moved the motion and Ms. Fisher seconded it. The motion passed unanimously. The board’s certification meeting was announced for Monday at 3 p.m. in the VOC Room at 100 Cherokee; the pre-certification meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.","At a pre-certification meeting, Cobb County elections officials detailed 23 provisional ballots, three outstanding ballot cures due by 5 p.m., plans to upload final results Monday and a risk-limiting audit scheduled for May 6.","actionData","errors"]

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Board asks staff to research legality of virtual pre-certification meetings

Cobb County board members debate reducing precincts; staff proposes phased, data-driven approach

Cobb County elections staff preview provisional ballots, set risk-limiting audit for May 6