Candidates Find Funds Trickling In

Campaign finance reports for Georgia's crowded gubernatorial field are trickling in. Among the Republican contenders, state Sen. Eric Johnson of Savannah raised nearly $963,000 since he entered the race in April. Secretary of State Karen Handel she raised more than $430,000 during the six-month reporting period, while Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine said he raised about $420,000. State Rep. Austin Scott has raised about $180,000 and long-shot GOP candidate Ray McBerry has also raised about $18,000. U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal had yet to report.

On the Democratic side, former Georgia National Guard commander David Poythress said he raised about $150,000 during the six-month span. And, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter says he's taken in about $231,000.

Reports for the other two Democrats running - former Gov. Roy Barnes, H and Attorney General Thurbert Baker - were not immediately available.

(Associated Press)

Perdue Veto's Tax Credit Bill

Governor Perdue today vetoed legislation that would have given tax credits to companies who hire the unemployed.

HB 481 was called the Republican stimulus bill. The bill would have given a $2,400 dollar tax credit to businesses for each employee they hire now and keep for two years.

But in the waning days of the General Assembly Republicans added a capital gains tax cut that would have cut it in half in 2 years. Governor Perdue says that made the bill unsustainable in the long run.

Perdue’s veto of a tax cut popular with Republicans drew a response from gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel. The Republican candidate issued a statement saying if she were governor she would have signed the bill.

Handel responds to lawsuit

Secretary of State Karen Handel says a federal lawsuit filed by a coalition of voter groups against her office is an "orchestrated attempt to dismantle" Georgia’s voter ID process.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Cherokee County man who they say is a victim of voter discrimination—claiming naturalized citizens are unfairly targeted. The suit claims state elections officials did not get federally-required approval for new voter registration policies.

Handel responded, saying the groups want to open the door to allow non-citizens to register to vote in November’s general election. She says safeguards in the verification process are legal, and help ensure only those eligible can vote.

But Jon Greenbaum disagrees—he’s with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:

"Not only did they fail to get pre-clearance for the changes, not only are voters being purged within 90 days of a federal election, but the database itself has massive problems".

This lawsuit follows a ruling from the U.S. Department of Justice this week. It said Georgia’s action to verify citizenship using Social Security numbers violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Powell Faces Another Appeal

Democratic Public Service Commission District 1 Candidate Jim Powell could be booted off November's statewide ballot depending on how an appeals judge rules in his ongoing residency dispute. Powell did not homestead his District One property in North Georgia before entering the race, and Secretary of State Karen Handel determined that Powell did not live in the district when he filed to run. Two judges have so far disagreed with that ruling, and so now Handel is appealing.

Powell, a Hiwassee resident, says he is being politically targeted by Handel, a Republican.

A spokesman for Handel denies the court appeal is politically motivated, and says the office will continue seeking Powell's removal from the ballot.

Powell is campaigning as a consumer advocate, and favors heavier regulation of utilities than the other members on the commission.

Powell says the ongoing court battles are hurting his fundraising, as donors are reluctant to dole out campaign cash for a candidate that might be thrown off the ballot "I think that's part of the strategy the Secretary of State has is to take me off message and take me off the campaign."

Powell faces Republican Lauren Bubba McDonald, a well financed candidate in favor of looser regulatory restrictions on utilities.

Powell to Handel: Stop Being Like Katherine Harris

Jim Powell says he first started hearing the rumors over the weekend. What was different about this rumor, as opposed to most political rumors, is that it was one hundred percent true. Jim Powell, largely considered by Democratic leaders as the front runner for the Public Service Commission District 4 Nomination, was kicked off the ballot. This is how Powell says he found out about it:

“I received an email Sunday night, July 13 from a Pickens county Election Board member telling me that he had received an email indicating that I had been disqualified as a candidate.”

Powell has been dogged by other rumors he moved into the district just to run for the seat. Eventually, those rumors made their way to court. However, an administrative judge ruled Powell is a legitimate resident of District 4. During a debate earlier this month, Powell declared “It’s no longer an issue.” His primary opponent, Robert Indech, concurred, saying “In my opinion it is a dead issue.”

Call it the issue from beyond.

Less than a week before the primary, the Secretary of State rose that "dead issue" from the grave and has seemingly buried Powell’s candidacy. Secretary Karen Handel ruled because Powell did not claim a homestead exemption for his house in Towns County, he does not live in the district.

Handel has the authority to determine whether a candidate is eligible, and can do so anytime before the election.

Powell says the whole thing looks like a “sham.” In a lengthy discussion with Georgia Public Broadcasting last night, he objected to the fact he was never personally notified. The Secretary of State’s office instead contacted his attorney, who is out of the country.

Powell also called Handel “the second coming of Katherine Harris,” in reference to the former Florida Secretary of State at the center of that state’s 2000 Presidential re-count.

Yet, Powell has never fully explained why he opted out of homesteading his Towns County home. Powell instead homesteaded his home in Cobb county, and also received mail delivered to that address. The Secretary of State’s office concluded his wife also lived there full time. In an earlier statement, Powell said his wife lived with him in Towns County.

Powell maintains his removal from the ballot is politically motivated. A spokesman for Handel’s office disputes that, saying the decision was made based on facts. State office spokesman Matt Carrothers told GPB “It’s disappointing [Powell] is resorting to personal name calling.” Carrothers also acknowledged his office did not contact the candidate directly.

For now, Powell’s name will stay on the ballot. A Fulton County Judge has stayed Handel’s decision.Yet, should Powell win the nomination as expected, he will have to once again prevail in court.

Powell acknowledges this puts him at a disadvantage against his likely Republican opponent, Lauren “Bubba” McDonald. And if he is ultimately booted from the ballot, Powell says he doesn’t know if he’ll steer his grassroots supporters towards Democrat Bob Indech.

“I have reservations” Powell said, before adding, “I just can’t say right now.”

Secretary of State opens Clayton County school board probe

Georgia’s Secretary of State’s Office is opening an investigation of the embattled Clayton County School Board. Some members are under fire for possible violations of Board policy, which is threatening the school system’s accreditation.

Secretary of State Karen Handel says investigators want to see if the county’s school board complied with local election laws, and specifically whether Board members reside in their districts as required by law.

The request for investigation was made by Governor Sonny Perdue. Handel says to have her office launch an investigation of this type certainly is rare.

"It certainly is unique under my time. I certainly have and share the concerns for the parents and the students in Clayton County. This is clearly an extraordinarily difficult and disturbing situation, and we want to be partners in helping to be supportive in getting this to some good conclusion".

Handel’s Inspector General is handling the probe. She expects a report on the matter within 30 days.

Georgia breaks voting record

Georgia voters broke a record during yesterday's presidential primary. Secretary of State Karen Handel reports that 44% of active registered voters cast a ballot. That surpasses what is believed to be the previous high of 40 percent in 1988. With 94% of precincts reporting, just under 2-million votes had been tallied. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee won the Republican race in Georgia, while Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, received the nod from Democrats.

Phase Three of Voter Photo ID outreach begins

In preparation for the primaries on Feb. 5, Phase Three of Secretary of State Karen Handel's Photo ID outreach begins, reports Access North Georgia.com.

Her office identified thousands of active and inactive registered voters who may not have a Georgia driver's license or identification card. They will receive letters reminding them they must present photo identification if they're going to the polls.

Photo ID is not required with an absentee ballot by mail.

The outreach encompasses voters who registered to vote after local elections in the fall and both voters targeted and not targeted in previous phases.

Acceptable forms of identifications follows:

• Georgia driver's license, even if expired
• Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID
• Valid U.S. passport
• Valid government employee photo ID
  
• Valid U.S. military photo ID or valid tribal photo ID

Voters who do not have one of the forms of identification listed above may receive a free Georgia Voter ID from their county elections office.

Voter Guidelines for Upcoming Primaries

Secretary of State Karen Handel today reminded voters that the deadline to register to vote and be eligible to cast a ballot in the February 5 Presidential Preference Primary is Monday, January 7.

Here are the rules, according to a statement released by Handel's office:

To register to vote in Georgia, you must be a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of Georgia and of the county in which you wish to vote, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. You may not register to vote if you are currently serving any sentence imposed by the conviction of a felony or judicially determined to be mentally incompetent.

You can download and complete a voter registration application by visiting the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.georgia.gov/elections. You can also contact your local county registrars' office, public library, public assistance office, recruitment office, schools and other government offices for a mail-in registration form. Voter Registration is offered when renewing or applying for a driver's license at any Georgia Department of Driver Services office. College students can obtain Georgia voter registration forms from their school registrar's office or from the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Georgia law requires registered voters to show photo identification when voting in person. This photo identification requirement applies in the February 5 Presidential Preference Primary and all future elections. When voting absentee by mail, photo identification is not required.

Voters casting ballots in person, either through early voting or on Election Day, will be required to show one of the following forms of acceptable photo ID when they vote:

• A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired;
• Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar or Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS);
• Valid U.S. passport;
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of this state;
• Valid U.S. military photo ID; or
• Valid tribal photo ID.
  
  Voters who have questions are encouraged to call the Georgia Secretary of State’s Voter ID Hotline at (877) 725-9797 or visit www.GaPhotoID.com.
  
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Runoff elections Tuesday

Some Georgians will head to the polls next Tuesday. December 4th marks run-off elections for House District 127 and other county and municipal elections where candidates failed to receive a majority vote on November 6th. Secretary of State Karen Handel reminds voters to bring photo identification with them to the polls. For a list of approved ID’s, link to the Secretary of State’s website here.

New program to document Georgia history

Secretary of State Karen Handel has a new program to archive your old family photos. The goal of the Virtual Georgia program is to preserve Georgia’s history. Organizers are looking for photographs that show Georgians in everyday life like street scenes, family and business life, but also architecture, important events and landscapes. You can upload your photos at www.georgiaarchives.org.

Fulton Co. could pay for losing voter registration cards

Hundreds of thousands of voter registration cards in Fulton County ended up in the trash. Now elections officials there could face penalties. County officials said the 93,000 records were inadvertently dumped when the county moved from one storage center to another. Secretary of State Karen Handel has asked the Attorney General’s office to advise her office on how and whether to hold Fulton County accountable.

Secretary of state revives voter photo requirement

Secretary of State Karen Handel plans to make voters show photo identification at the polls beginning with a special election in September.

"We are ready to begin education, outreach and training for the implementation of photo ID requirements for the September 18 special elections," Handel says.

Handel says the state can go forward because the Georgia Supreme Court has dismissed a case challenging the law. Her office is preparing letters to send to 1.15 million registered voters in the 27 counties holding a special election in September. Handel says only about 77,000 of those voters lack the proper identification, however.

But another case is still pending in federal court. Attorney Emmet Bondurant, who represents the plaintiffs, says Handel's efforts "are very likely to generate vast amounts of confusion--people being told they're going to have to get [photo ID], how to get it and all that sort of stuff when, in fact, the requirement that they obtain one at all is basically unconstitutional."

He says Handel "aspires to be our Katherine Harris," referring to the Florida secretary of state who supervised that state's 2000 presidential election, which ended in controversy over misread ballots and uncounted votes.

In response, Handel says she will not speculate on future decisions.

"I can only go with what the law is here and now in front of me, and the law today in front of me is that photo ID is in effect," she says.

Both sides say they want a speedy trial and a final decision on the issue, which has hung over Georgia elections for three years.

"It is imperative that we move to a final resolution in the Common Cause case so that the people of Georgia will know once and for all what to expect when they go to the polls to cast their vote," says Handel.

The suspended law would require voters to show one of six forms of government-issued photo identification at the polls. Supporters say the law would discourage voter fraud. Opponents say voter fraud is much more likely through absentee ballots, and the law would disproportionately affect registered voters who are poor or elderly.

Perdue signs election laws

It's now official: Georgia voters will go to the polls on February 5, 2008 to select Republican and Democratic presidential nominees.

Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the law Tuesday making February 5 Georgia's primary election date. He says the earlier election will force presidential hopefuls to campaign harder and more often in Georgia.

He also says this could be the start of a national primary.

"I, for one, frankly have never felt that Iowa, nor New Hampshire, should be the determinants of who becomes the two nominees," Perdue says. "I think as the population moves to the South and Southwest, you’ll see more of these efforts."

Lawmakers in about two dozen other states also recently chose February fifth as their primary election date.

Perdue also signed a law making absentee voter fraud a felony. Until now, election fraud laws have focused on tightening photo identification requirements for voters who go to the polls. Those laws were struck down by the courts. They were also criticized, in part because almost all of the voter fraud cases in Georgia history have involved absentee ballots. There were no safeguards against that type of fraud in the laws.

Secretary of State Karen Handel, who was at the bill signing, says this new law addresses that problem.

"Any type of fraud is something we're not going to stand for here in Georgia," Handel says. "What this legislation does is make sure that penalties for absentee ballot fraud are consistent with in-person voter fraud."

People found guilty of absentee voter fraud could spend up to 10 years in prison, and pay up to $100,000 in fines.