Dear Fulton County: Please call Brian Kemp. Really.
Jared Thomas, spokesman for Secretary of State Brian Kemp, just called to say that they’re coming across “significant issues” in Fulton County today – specifically, voters being assigned to wrong precincts.
The secretary of state’s office has attempted to contact officials at the Fulton election office, but haven’t been able to get their calls returned. “We’re not getting any cooperation,” Thomas said.
This could make for a long night, people.
If you’ve encountered any problems in your precinct, please describe them below. Meanwhile, Fulton County just sent over this statement:
During the course of today’s election, the Department of Registration & Elections became aware of a database error affecting approximately 300 registered voters on ten streets in Precinct 05A1/05A2 in Southeast Atlanta. This issue affected only the State House races for a small portion of House Districts 58 and 59. No other races were affected by this issue.
After reviewing the situation, those voters impacted who have not yet voted are now able to cast their ballot on the touch screen voting machine. A senior elections official has been onsite to address voter concerns. On Wednesday morning, the Department of Registration and Elections will begin investigating what remedial actions may need to be taken for voters impacted by this situation who already cast their ballots.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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74 comments Add your comment
Iftheyreallycared
July 31st, 2012
4:51 pm
Mr Thomas, if you can’t get them on the phone, leave the Gold Dome and walk the 2 blocks to the county office. DUH.
Eric Holder
July 31st, 2012
4:51 pm
I had no problems every time I voted today in Fulton, but voting in Gwinnett was much quicker today.
Road Scholar
July 31st, 2012
4:52 pm
Idiots! What’s next?
tsplost
July 31st, 2012
4:53 pm
And….. this is how tsplost got passed
Tom
July 31st, 2012
4:54 pm
Hearing about voters in the 6th Senate District being given ballots with the wrong district on it.
SOUTHSIDE
July 31st, 2012
5:01 pm
Spoke to a friend in Dekalb who had planned to vote absentee, then showed up at poll. They se.t her home to retrieve unused absentee ballot first. Wonder where THOSE go?… At 10:30am, NONE of tbe primary sample ballot PDFs on Sec. of State MVP site would load (am in Clayton). They were there before. What gives?
K-Ster
July 31st, 2012
5:05 pm
If Mary Norwood ran the county, I don’t think they’d be messing up.
Giirly girl
July 31st, 2012
5:06 pm
My precinct in Gwinnett is located at a church. They had the audacity to have a large table loaded with this church’s marketing stuff (CDs, books, etc.) with actual signs stating, “Voters, take our CDs,” and “Voters, make the choice to join us.” Not naming names, but take a guess.
Douq
July 31st, 2012
5:07 pm
I went to GA Secretary od STate’s site and Fulton County and showed I was in GA House district 56. The voters map also confirmed. I left multiple messages for “Ralph” and others at the county – no one called me back. Today, I voted and was in GA House district 55. What the _______. This is and of itself makes the entire voting process bogus
Laughing so hard it hurts
July 31st, 2012
5:08 pm
serves Brian Kemp right after the wording on the ballot gives bold writing of the Georgia preamble and then deceptively decieves the voters that TSPLOST will create jobs. You know if the businesses want to create jobs so badly why don’t they start hiring and shut up or b:) put it on their shoulders as a tax write off. All of em should be jailed for unethical corruption thru tsplost with the taxpayers money. Yes it is a double tax you fools.
LMAO
July 31st, 2012
5:09 pm
If you look closely, it’s because the general assembly gerrymandered district creating total confusion within precints.
K-Ster
July 31st, 2012
5:10 pm
How dare you complain about the Fulton Election Department, THAT’S RACIST!
justwondering
July 31st, 2012
5:12 pm
Why do the people of Fulton county continue to put up with such ineptness
AC
July 31st, 2012
5:17 pm
What I’d like to know is why on the SoS page, when I logged in I could see a nonpartisan ballot, but when I asked for it I was told I had to pick Democrat or Republican.
On With Rusty Humphries At Bottom Of The Hour — Peach Pundit
July 31st, 2012
5:17 pm
[...] In the mean time, I’m going to try to figure out what the heck is going on between the SOS office and Fulton County. [...]
AC
July 31st, 2012
5:18 pm
Whoops, submitted too fast. Is that something I can make a complaint about? Or do they already know Fulton is pretty inept at anything and everything?
bhowle
July 31st, 2012
5:21 pm
You cant get mad they cant HELP IT!!!!!!!!
Don't Tread
July 31st, 2012
5:24 pm
Something awry in Fulton County. They don’t hire employees based on merit – were you expecting a different result?
No news here.
You don't always get what you pay for
July 31st, 2012
5:24 pm
All was well in Cobb county.
HateThis
July 31st, 2012
5:25 pm
Every time I go to vote I’m denied an independent ballot and given a different commissioner district to vote on that the one my card says I’m in – EVERY time.
You don't always get what you pay for
July 31st, 2012
5:26 pm
And there is nothing wrong with a church having its materials in its own building. They DON’T have to let you vote there. If you don’t like it, vote absentee ballott. If I bless your heart, will you be offended by that?
Tired of BS
July 31st, 2012
5:27 pm
bless their slimy hearts.
INDEPENDENT
July 31st, 2012
5:29 pm
@AC – Same thing in Chatham County. Three separate ballots shown on County website, including nonpartisan ballot. Only two were actually available at the polling location, DEM and REP.
Real Athens
July 31st, 2012
5:30 pm
Speak to Brian Kemp or listen to him speak. He isn’t fit to manage a 7-11, much less a statewide election. Dumber than a bag of hammers, I’ll tell ya.
K-Ster
July 31st, 2012
5:33 pm
Wait, if precincts aren’t handing out the correct ballots (e.g. ‘independent’) and fudging voter’s districts, couldn’t this election possibly be argued invalid in the courts, thus having to be redone, AND cost more money?
Shayna
July 31st, 2012
5:40 pm
They were informed of this issue at the end of June when the voter registration cards were mailed. This just didn’t happen today.
Unfortunately, I was out of the loop and voted this morning for District 58 when I am now in 59. I understand the entire ballot will be tossed out, not just my vote in the race.
mark
July 31st, 2012
5:42 pm
The people in Fulton County keep putting up with this stuff because the majority of voters continue to re-elect people because they LOOK like them as opposed to being competent… while those of us who don’t vote that way are in the minority. Bring back Milton County. It can’t happen soon enough!!
Chris Matthews
July 31st, 2012
5:42 pm
I felt a tingle go up my leg when I voted “yes” for TSPLOST! Anybody have an extra cig?
Billybobjoe
July 31st, 2012
5:45 pm
Just consider the place (Fulton County) and this is where they make all the rules for the state. What can you expect from them?
Rosanne Rosanna Danna
July 31st, 2012
5:46 pm
In other news today, Mayor Reed signed into law a regulation that requires any Atlanta City worker that is either selfish, greedy, uncaring, or incompetent to vacate their job within two weeks effective August 1st. No wait – that was a just a dream. Never mind.
HateThis
July 31st, 2012
5:47 pm
I’m in Gwinnett, BTW
DeKalb Wonkette
July 31st, 2012
5:52 pm
Prior to today, I checked my information on the DeKalb elections website; my districts were wrong there too but correct on the SOS site and on my actual ballot. For many voters, I think that the questions posed by the Democratic and Republican parties were confusing since they did not clearly indicate that they were non-binding questons.
Sadly, we get the government we deserve, not the one we want.
Giirly girl
July 31st, 2012
5:52 pm
Voting is a secular experience. Bless your heart back!
Mickey
July 31st, 2012
5:53 pm
I voted several times in Fulton County with no problems whatsoever.
Don’t understand what all of this fuss is about.
Russ
July 31st, 2012
6:00 pm
Why am I not surprised? Voted in Carroll county…not one issue.
Turtleman
July 31st, 2012
6:07 pm
Ye Ye Ye Ye Live Action!
Cathy Woolard
July 31st, 2012
6:08 pm
I was one of those who got the wrong ballot at the Carson Lang Center. I spent more than 4 hours at the precinct waiting from someone from Ful Co Elections to come (they are on their way) so that I could explain the multi-faceted problem. It was a nightmare and no one showed until past 3pm – and then they had no answers or leadership. Sam Westmoreland needs to be fired. He has known for over a month that there were problems with registration cards, absentee ballots, early voting and now on election day. I could write a book about the massive failure. I have the names of 20 voters that I spoke to while waiting that had (1) wrong registration cards, (2) got incorrect ballots (3) we not allowed to revote a correct ballot after the discovered the error. Really a frustrating day at the polls.
another comment
July 31st, 2012
6:14 pm
I keep on getting the registeration card from Fulton County, of the DEAD 90 year old, who died in Feb. 2010. When I first got her new precinct card a couple of months ago, I sent it back to Fulton county clearly marked Return to Sender. Then I wrote all over the back that she was dead since 2/10/10 and that she died at 90. Does that do any good, No. I received two more cards along with mine and my daughters. Today, I told them at my polling place. The lady had me fill out a change of residency card for the Dead Lady. I filled it out wrote her name, wrote that she was born in 1920 and died in Feb. 2010. The lady had me write Deseased in every possible other blank on the form. She told me that she would personally take it down, to get it filed. She also told me she appreciated me going to such lengths so try to get them to correct this.
I am sure that there are a ton of other Dead people still on the roles. I can easily google this ladie’s name and find her obituary.
Did he just say?
July 31st, 2012
6:14 pm
Did someone really just bring up Mary Norwood??? Especially when she was running for Mayor of Atlanta and not Fulton County CEO which doesn’t even exist….Know what you are talking before speaking sir even when you are wrong be on point!
Chris Sanchez
July 31st, 2012
6:21 pm
Oh the gnashing of teeth as T-SPLOST supporters feel their boondoggle slipping away….
We
July 31st, 2012
6:24 pm
Enter your comments here
another comment
July 31st, 2012
6:24 pm
I also do not understand how they can have us vote in Churches in Georgia. At least the Baptist church I had to vote in today, did not try to preach or shame you if you asked for a ballot of the other party. At the church I was assigned in Smyrna, they scorned you if you asked for a different party. They also tried to recruit. My response was that I am a Prochoice Catholic. That would get them going, then they would start to lecture me again. Then they changed my precenict to another Smyrna church that was a nightmere for anyone Handicapped. They didn’t want to let you in the elevator, but the elevator was the only way to go from the Handicapped parking.
It should not be allowed making one vote in a Church. In other states they would never think of having you vote in a Church. Where is the seperation of Church and State. Oh, I forgot Georgia is in the pocket of those Evangelical preachers. It is a state where Catholic’s aren’t Christian’s.
Zombies r peeple 2
July 31st, 2012
6:26 pm
Well, unless the dead lady shows up to vote with her ID in hand I don’t see a problem. This isn’t Chicago after all.
Citizen
July 31st, 2012
6:35 pm
I encourage everyone to read these comments in order. Is this what we have become? The racist overtones, the personal attacks, the sarcasm. How can we expect our government, our politicians and our government workers to act professionally when we ourselves act like a bunch of elementary school kids in a “nani nani boo boo” fight? Grow up, be accountable and stop being such damn hypocrits. Or, just be the kind of person who lacks a solution, treats others as inferiors and wins at all costs. You will get the government you deserve.
MysteryMoves
July 31st, 2012
6:36 pm
I didn’t have any problems voting NO for TSPLOST!
To another comment
July 31st, 2012
6:37 pm
Separation of church and state was meant to keep the government from telling you what religion to practice…not a church telling you how to vote.
netdragon
July 31st, 2012
6:39 pm
I heard people in Reynoldstown are consistently getting the wrong ballots.
In my opinion, Fulton county needs to go through each and every ballot and offer a revote to people that got the wrong ballots.
earthworx
July 31st, 2012
6:47 pm
@Citizen Hear hear!
Eric "Clueless" Holder
July 31st, 2012
6:48 pm
My staff tells me that some of the Black Panther poll watchers are only be allowed to vote three times in Fulton County. Everyone needs to know that I may look into this.
Gary A. Willis
July 31st, 2012
6:49 pm
In Brantley County I declared democrat but was given a republican ballot on the machine. I said so to the the poll workers and it was corrected. However, it gives one pause to wonder.
Democratic Plantation Dweller
July 31st, 2012
6:50 pm
Don’t worry … we are just trying to work out the details to be sure Obama wins overwhelmingly in November.
Josh
July 31st, 2012
6:56 pm
My neighborhood was moved from District 58 to District 59. Unfortunately I didn’t know that until after I voted for a District 58 candidate this morning.
G Mare
July 31st, 2012
6:58 pm
Chris Matthews, no cigarette for you if you voted YES on tsplost.
Pkorman
July 31st, 2012
7:03 pm
@Citizen: Racist comments? You don’t appreciate bigoted comments from the electorate? How about bigoted advertisements and declarations from those in power. When discriminatory and bigoted comments are made by those with official power…that is racism. Please allow me to direct you to the Fulton County commission race a few years back as you may not recall:
http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php/topic/32274-mayor-shirley-franklin-race-baiting/
Kris (???? Voted NO)
July 31st, 2012
7:04 pm
MysteryMoves “I didn’t have any problems voting NO for TSPLOST!”
It felt very good to vote NO.
Put this boondoggle out of its misery.
Next on my check list.
Put a newt on the moon.
Re-elect President OBAMA!
Jarvis
July 31st, 2012
7:04 pm
Giirly girl., You may come over my place and sit on my lap and cry your broken heart out and I promise I will sooth you thereby preventing you from getting a post traumatic stress disorder.
Dawn Bellamy
July 31st, 2012
7:16 pm
Sent in paperwork for 3 in my family to vote absentee in N Fulton County. NEVER received the ballots in the mail so we went to poll to cast our votes only to be turned away because (1) they had us down as absentee voters and (2) we did not have the ballots to turn in to enable us to vote because we NEVER received them in the first place. I knew better than to call!
K-Ster
July 31st, 2012
7:17 pm
@Did he just say? – Mary Norwood also tried to run for Fulton Commission Chair as an independent post mayoral run, but was ousted from the ballot because she was late by a couple hours to turn in her thousands of signatures to qualify as an independent (as required when not on a party ticket). Know YOUR stuff before you vomit those faux ego words.
S.Kessler
July 31st, 2012
7:28 pm
More voting machines are needed at my precinct in SWAT on Peyton Road. Today I waited 50 minutes to vote. Voters became tired of waiting, exited the line, left the bldg and never came back. Can someone please explain this? It makes no sense!
David the Observer
July 31st, 2012
7:44 pm
How are we going to prevent voter fraud if people who have a right to vote can’t vote?
I had no problems voting today and I am from Boston.
td
July 31st, 2012
8:00 pm
another comment
July 31st, 2012
6:24 pm
Cry me a freaking handful. Are you afraid you are going to catch on fire walking into a church or your soul is telling you something about the way you are living your life?
Churches allow the state to use their facilities for free which allows more voting places closer to where people live. What should we do make people have to go further away and stand in line longer or pay money for facilities just for you?
You always have the option to absentee vote or to vote early not in a church if it offends you that much.
MA
July 31st, 2012
8:03 pm
No problems voting early in Henry County. NO on TSPLOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Weetamoe
July 31st, 2012
8:27 pm
Voting is a secular experience and churches, being good citizens, allow the secular experience to take place on their property. It’s not like Saladin or Suleiman was there to force you to stomp on the cross or anything. So, little girly, Dominus vobiscum and all that .
Congrats GA Voters
July 31st, 2012
8:34 pm
I have faith in you that you are smarter than the idiots that are trying to convince the population of GA that this will make their lives better. Exactly HOW is building a trolley car line from Olympic Park to MLK Museum going to make traffic better??? How much of this tax will be used to purchase overpriced land like the new GA-400 Bond did at Atlantic Station? There are at least 10 reasons to vote NO – and I have faith in my fellow voters (on this issue anyway).
Jackie
July 31st, 2012
8:55 pm
Cobb County is screwed up too. New district lines, have my kids going to one school, and I can only vote for School Board members for another school. According to Cobb County School web site, I should be voting in District 5, but according to Cobb County Board of Elections I should be voting in District 4. Voters who live in District 7 and attend schools in District 7 can only vote for School Board members in District 5. Whats up with this????
William
July 31st, 2012
8:56 pm
Pretty sure that 78% is a MAJORITY!
Now if we can just fire every person that currently holds a government job and replace them with about 1/3 of that many in the private sector, we’d be making a real difference.
If your in government, your a lying, cheating, LOSER.
If you want MORE government, your just stupid.
hiram
July 31st, 2012
9:13 pm
@td
“Churches allow the state to use their facilities for free which allows more voting places…”
You’ve got that backwards brother td – the state allows the various cults to use their facilities for free, which removes valuable property from the tax base, which everyone else has to pay for. To add insult to injury, they direct the votes of their flocks of sheeple.
BEND OVER, HERE COMES THE CHANGE
July 31st, 2012
9:18 pm
Giirly girl – Somebody FORCED you to take their items? Get a LIFE! Why don’t you complain about the public schools letting Churches use the school on Sundays.
LMAO
July 31st, 2012
9:22 pm
@William I pray the next time you need help from Law Enforcement that you don’t espouse such ignorant rants. Soldier fighting for your sorry arse are government workers. Hope you don’t need the help of the fire department. Oh yeah, they are government workers.
FireWithFire
July 31st, 2012
9:29 pm
Well @William, since my wife busted her @$$ to EARN her degree so that she can devote her life to protecting children from “parents” who would rather smoke METH and starve and beat them rather than raise them, and thus making her necessary to SERVE the public I have to say F YOU! Self-righteous misinformed neanderthal.
Cynthia
July 31st, 2012
9:38 pm
AAhh, good old Foolton Clowny
FireWithFire
July 31st, 2012
9:40 pm
@LMAO
William is the PRIME example of the new DUMBED DOWN AMERICA. It’s sad really. NO ability to discern, be pragmatic, think critically, NONE of that. Ultimately though it will be his undoing along with those who think like him. He always has his guns though (as a last resort). He’s so stupid though, he thinks others don’t, and for that I LMAO.
td
July 31st, 2012
9:43 pm
It appears that three of the least populated traffic areas in the state are leaning towards approving an additional tax on themselves when they do not have traffic problems. Anyone care to explain this one because I am a little puzzled.
Wilbur
August 1st, 2012
6:46 am
Fulton County incompetent to run electiions? Unresponsive to lawful authority? Say it ain’t so!!