[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6513944,"mediaKeyId","5065648-a6cbdc8d48d58dc00e353c71596402d8","parentId",5065648,"title","Outgoing DeKalb elections board members praise staff, cite transparency gains and warn against politicization","audioSeconds",1018,"startMs",2715000,"endMs",3733000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065648-a6cbdc8d48d58dc00e353c71596402d8&start=2715&end=3733","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065648-a6cbdc8d48d58dc00e353c71596402d8/thumbnail_2715000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6513944/DeKalb-County/Georgia/Outgoing-DeKalb-elections-board-members-praise-staff-cite-transparency-gains-and-warn-against-politicization","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513944-7844c7a9b766d3810de7f2ff553ab3c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771007854&Signature=VFzaa89etG4DHXPbIxy93G1OhrjceB8YBkyuUuUCPu8Ddozve1FlMHP5al2m7cdf~ey8gvDkV8Q-raYFBnlHSnrk~Zn0AjKuH2tMYxA~rWX9XBHCWaQFFFpZH65YVGj1Bu-oR8BT89NCLygOZjY7G5ztlrvpa6MDgGnijS5NsN6ravPR6faGQKjE~2R0uRe5dcwaDUgPnmGC48Gs88XeeY4MuTFDaK6oWzqYpXuhYCJEGTMO3z7m86oilJtz~XSvzGDz0esPS5FIJCAiAXczvmzJcKU5MmQcDVMDUKdqPsgJpzE~fRVHgdgm7r8BzYhd8JifP6pFD3Lb6InJLrl21A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","DeKalb County","date","2025-06-23T00:00:00Z","article","At their final scheduled meeting on June 23, two longtime members of the DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections delivered parting remarks that thanked staff, highlighted improvements in transparency and training, and urged protection of the board’s independence.

Board member Anthony Lewis, who said he has served nine years, praised staff growth and operational improvements under Director Keisha Smith, thanked poll workers and county partners, and noted the department has expanded training and public engagement. “I think this may be one of the last places where people who serve here are serving from the heart,” Lewis said, adding a caution that “the political environment ... makes a board and a department like this subject to political manipulation.”

Board member Susan Motter, who said she has served six years, emphasized increased transparency: public access to the department budget and agenda materials, enhanced language-translation efforts and outreach to voters who need accommodations. She encouraged future board members to keep asking detailed operational questions so the public can see how processes work.

The board also noted that Nancy Jester, another outgoing member, was absent from the meeting due to a personal emergency and sent apologies. Members recognized the departing colleagues with comments and a standing ovation before adjourning.

The board adjourned following the remarks and a brief procedural motion; the meeting record shows the final vote to adjourn carried unanimously.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DeKalb County - Board of Registration and Elections Meeting - Jun 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members Anthony Lewis and Susan Motter used their final meeting remarks to thank election staff, note gains in transparency and staffing, highlight programs like Vote Safe, and warn against efforts to politicize election administration.","taxTitle","DeKalb County, Georgia","taxId",3571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6513949,"Board discusses adding bylaw to publicize process for at-large board appointment",270,2057000,2327000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065648-a6cbdc8d48d58dc00e353c71596402d8&start=2057&end=2327","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065648-a6cbdc8d48d58dc00e353c71596402d8/thumbnail_2057000.jpg","/articles/6513949/DeKalb-County/Georgia/Board-discusses-adding-bylaw-to-publicize-process-for-at-large-board-appointment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513949-9beacc0366589578d4a83c4190379179/orig.mp4?Expires=1771007855&Signature=KeMowd4Obgp5iDDdOXPPoOkVR2bIn~0Gapt-Pv~MJI3QfzyQpVXRUupPRC3SKcpwTdHc6s4g7agT5AmtqrK5mfpnH88UOzj3pZjaLOp2u56LarpBoHCMIigMlEaZ~hCh4yUGYKxQ8LZ7xyzxBsNvQl7yyyQMBvX0CtjAB7dWiIgrQEVMsZsVu-7KRcWFRy~GovOCk8kp7-KjQRdnnMYbkgWQfkiJlpGNDTDPk5neipWIYoy6ahe4ql4BPW7jOWMNw6~PLBRdqv4WJTcGPqUT-K6rA0HtkP1hCONg7XvPnpJtNrfAZglOEN80JHEE4xkYXDsR9uPXBkLel2t78h8YTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the June 23 meeting the DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections discussed a proposed addition to its bylaws intended to increase public notice and transparency for the at-large board appointment.

Board member Anthony Lewis proposed adding a paragraph (to be numbered 9) titled “Coordination for at-large member appointment.” The draft would direct the executive director to consult with the chief judge of superior court to obtain deadlines, eligibility criteria and application procedures for the at-large appointment; it would require dissemination of those details to DeKalb residents via press release and department social channels within five business days of receipt and, in normal circumstances, no later than 30 days before the application deadline. If the information arrives less than 30 days before a deadline, the draft requires immediate dissemination and additional outreach; it also would require the executive director to record the dissemination date in the minutes or other official records.

Lewis said the change is intended to standardize notice after previous at-large appointments have been inconsistent: “We just want the public to have a way for the public to know,” he said, noting that the department and some public stakeholders were not aware of prior appointment windows. Board members agreed the goal is transparency but asked county attorneys to review whether the proposed language is consistent with the enabling legislation governing board appointments.

County attorneys were asked to research the enabling legislation and advise whether the proposed bylaw language would be consistent with the judge’s statutory role in appointing the at-large member. No vote was taken; the proposal will be considered by the incoming board.","Board member Anthony Lewis proposed a bylaw addition that would require the elections department to consult the chief judge and disseminate deadlines and application requirements for the at-large board seat; county attorneys will review compatibility with enabling legislation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6513953,"DeKalb elections board certifies June 17 PSC primary, approves July 7–11 early voting for runoff",833,704000,1537000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5065648-a6cbdc8d48d58dc00e353c71596402d8&start=704&end=1537","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5065648-a6cbdc8d48d58dc00e353c71596402d8/thumbnail_704000.jpg","/articles/6513953/DeKalb-County/Georgia/DeKalb-elections-board-certifies-June-17-PSC-primary-approves-July-711-early-voting-for-runoff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513953-608b379919c2d08c698f45afecf3d7e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771007855&Signature=HZUChoIEonXq2hGYv1b2z7HnAU~Jm-YcftDXGPok7DQc~pwwbxHCtnXkO752JBIlgse7crCzDMBvMdn4RpbNX4wruc-vwrIEMm8nY6S~VHghuoCxZBbirnDzxf5yOEV5z7hf6CdjtcdEi9gAR4A-IDEi-LZZwQDzpPmr~QiBF-ANssayjsyo~9dcQJ~NgsGJnJqyfoNzAv-R3TW5MtAzdTtDT6q9HSou44VSm4TKvcmAjlcrqStIT37w14j6laUUT51AndrlcO~nxULmRGtLgQQ7KhCwMSuzGqAGDTxaG9y5Q3HrNgBspRbHpCsOws8qzPtz~gjHsGe0nvE0ZxqTRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections on June 23 certified the official and complete results of the June 17 special primary for Public Service Commissioner and approved early voting dates, times and locations for the resulting July 15 runoff.

The board voted to certify the June 17 election after the department presented the official report. Director Keisha Smith said, “there were 508,223 active voters. Ballots cast in this, special primary, public service commissioner election was 29,108. The overall turnout in DeKalb County was 5.73% of those active voters.” The department reported 20,053 Election Day ballots, 8,730 early votes, 297 domestic absentee-by-mail ballots and 28 provisionals accepted with seven rejected.

The certification followed public comment in which local poll workers and observers thanked the department and urged steps to reduce runoff frequency. Janet Grant, an area poll manager who supervised multiple precincts in the June primary, told the board she appreciated “the commitment of poll workers” and urged the board “to approve early voting access consistent with the June primary.” Michael Beach, an assistant poll manager in Decatur, praised improvements in training and suggested the county “start talking about ranked choice voting.”

After certifying the election, the board recessed briefly to sign paperwork and then approved the recommended early voting plan for the runoff. The approved early voting period is Monday, July 7 through Friday, July 11, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at three sites: the DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections Office (Suite 500), Dunwoody Library and Salem Panola Library. The board voted unanimously to approve the locations and hours.

Director Smith said a public notice and the required L&A (logic and accuracy) testing have been posted; L&A testing is scheduled to begin the week following the meeting. She also noted that UOCAVA (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act) ballots were not applicable for this special primary because there was no federal contest on the ballot.

The board set a tentative pre-certification meeting related to the runoff for July 18 at 10 a.m. to review results and next steps; the board also discussed processes for notifying the public about absentee ballot deadlines and other administrative details.

The department emphasized equipment and staffing numbers used in the June election: 971 poll workers hired, 298 tested and deployed poll pads, 1,249 touch-screen units and 158 scanners. The presentation showed 147 polling places were open for the special primary (out of 191 precincts on the rolls) following earlier consolidations.

Next steps for the department include completing any outstanding cures for absentee/provisional ballots, finishing L&A testing, and implementing the early voting schedule for the runoff. The board signed the certification paperwork after the vote and set the July 7–11 early voting schedule in place.","The DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections certified the June 17 special Public Service Commission primary, reviewed turnout and ballot-type counts, and unanimously approved early voting locations and hours for a July 15 runoff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Outgoing DeKalb elections board members praise staff, cite transparency gains and warn against politicization

Board discusses adding bylaw to publicize process for at-large board appointment

DeKalb elections board certifies June 17 PSC primary, approves July 7–11 early voting for runoff