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BumRushDaShow

(128,980 posts)
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 09:03 AM Aug 2018

Elections board decides not to close all but 2 polling places in a majority-black county in Georgia

Source: CNN



A Georgia board of elections voted down a plan to close seven of a majority-black county's nine polling places ahead of November's midterm elections. The meeting where the vote took place lasted less than 60 seconds.

Critics had said the plan to consolidate polling places in Randolph County, Georgia, was a clear effort to suppress the black vote in Georgia's governor race, which pits former Georgia House minority leader Stacey Abrams, who is black, against Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who is white.

[Original story, published at 8:11 a.m. ET]

A rural Georgia county's Board of Elections is scheduled to vote Friday on a controversial proposal to close seven of the majority-black county's nine polling places ahead of the November midterm election. The vote comes amid widespread national criticism and days after the county terminated its contract with the proposal's architect.

Critics have called the plan to consolidate polling places in Randolph County a brazen attempt to suppress the black vote in Georgia's governor's race, one of the marquee contests of 2018 season. The race pits former Georgia House minority leader Stacey Abrams, who is black, against Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who is white.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/24/us/randolph-county-polling-closures-vote/index.html



Pressure was put on and the shaming succeeded.
13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Elections board decides not to close all but 2 polling places in a majority-black county in Georgia (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Aug 2018 OP
Nice to know that bad press can still shame people into doing the right thing. nycbos Aug 2018 #1
Excellent, so glad to know this. The cons were stopped. appalachiablue Aug 2018 #2
And how many times have Republicans gotten away with this crap?? Bengus81 Aug 2018 #3
It's a Dem county, but they somehow ended up with a Repub consultant MGKrebs Aug 2018 #4
The consultant was fired as I understand it BumRushDaShow Aug 2018 #5
"...he was hired after the chairman of the county's Board of Elections, MGKrebs Aug 2018 #7
Definitely a "lessons learned" moment. BumRushDaShow Aug 2018 #8
Why were 2 of the 9 closed? lark Aug 2018 #6
There are a total of 9 polling places and they wanted to close 7 of them BumRushDaShow Aug 2018 #9
They got caught. Iggo Aug 2018 #10
Yeah BumRushDaShow Aug 2018 #11
I really hope the response is a massive turnout. n/t LisaM Aug 2018 #12
I hope so too BumRushDaShow Aug 2018 #13

MGKrebs

(8,138 posts)
4. It's a Dem county, but they somehow ended up with a Repub consultant
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 09:50 AM
Aug 2018

who recommended this action. It was likely never going to pass, but that consultant- who has donated to the GOP governor candidate (who is the current SoS!)- should not be hired as a voting consultant.

Even worse, the county asked the SoS for guidance on the issue and got a nasty letter in reply.

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So that's the SoS trying to distance himself from the matter.
The SoS office is basically working for the GOP Gov campaign.

BumRushDaShow

(128,980 posts)
5. The consultant was fired as I understand it
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 09:53 AM
Aug 2018

but obviously whoever hired him was asleep at the wheel.

MGKrebs

(8,138 posts)
7. "...he was hired after the chairman of the county's Board of Elections,
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 09:58 AM
Aug 2018

Scott Peavy, contacted Kemp’s (Ga GOP SoS) office to seek names of certified elections officials on short notice before the May primary election. Georgia Elections Director Chris Harvey provided three names, including Malone’s."
https://politics.myajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/elections-consultant-fired-over-proposal-close-georgia-precincts/Hr6FBBXRJo6fVFixRur1mO/

So the county asked for guidance, got a political hack has a recommendation, then asked for more help to straighten things out, and got a 'tough shit' letter in response.
Disgusting.

BumRushDaShow

(128,980 posts)
9. There are a total of 9 polling places and they wanted to close 7 of them
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 10:02 AM
Aug 2018

and only leave 2. Now all 9 will remain open (hopefully).

BumRushDaShow

(128,980 posts)
11. Yeah
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 12:15 PM
Aug 2018

figure it's summer and people are "on vacation" and wouldn't notice.

Have to thank the ACLU!

BumRushDaShow

(128,980 posts)
13. I hope so too
Fri Aug 24, 2018, 04:41 PM
Aug 2018

and if that election board are actually elected positions and are up this year, then they need to be replaced!

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