Upset residents are launching the stiffest challenge yet to Georgia's touch-screen electronic voting system, arguing that there's no way to ensure ballots cast are recorded and tabulated correctly.
It's a direct challenge to the electronic voting system adopted in 2002 in the aftermath of the Florida voting debacle that made Georgia the first in the nation to have uniform touchscreen voting statewide. The critics contend that there's no guarantee that electronic ballots are tallied correctly because there's no way to independently audit the votes.
But state attorneys say the system is far less vulnerable to fraud than paper ballots, and that the machines produce a paper trail that can be audited.
On the Net: http://www.gasupreme.us.
(Associated Press)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Georgians Challenge Electronic Voting System
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Dire economy led Georgia news in '08
The vast economic crisis has left scores of Georgia's houses empty, its banks shuttered and sent thousands of its residents searching for jobs even as its unemployment rate balloons to heights not seen since Ronald Reagan was president.
The nationwide recession was the top Georgia news story of 2008, according to state editors and news directors voting in The Associated Press' annual survey.
Other stories high on most lists included an energy crisis that sent gas prices on a roller-coaster ride, the U.S. Senate runoff that thwarted Democratic plans for a super-majority in the Senate and the months-long trial of courthouse gunman Brian Nichols.
Yet the economic doldrums was the top choice for seven of 12 Georgia AP members participating in the news cooperative's survey.
Georgia residents began feeling the economic fallout early this year as a growing number of homes remained unsold and credit grew tighter. Firms fired workers, governments furloughed staffers, foreclosures spiked and the state unemployment rate soared to 7.5 percent - the highest in 25 years.
The bleak economy forced regulators to close down five state banks, and led Gov. Sonny Perdue to order spending cuts of at least 6 percent to narrow a deficit that could top $2 billion in 2009.
The new year is unlikely to bring much relief. State economists warn unemployment will climb higher and housing prices will continue to plummet through the first half of 2009.
Volatile energy prices were the No. 2 story of the year. The topsy-turvy fuel market sent the price of crude soaring to as high as $150 a barrel in July before crashing to $33 this month.
The jump in prices, which soared after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike shuttered Gulf Coast refineries, sparked panic among Georgia drivers. Gas stations advertised fuel at $8 a gallon, while some drivers camped out at gas stations to be first in line for new deliveries.
Georgia's seemingly endless U.S. Senate campaign notched the No. 3 spot.
Residents headed to the polls four times to vote on the Senate contest, beginning with the July primaries and ending with a Dec. 2 runoff when Saxby Chambliss was elected to a second Senate term. The Republican's victory over Jim Martin deprived Democrats of a 60-seat filibuster-proof majority.
The conviction and sentencing of Brian Nichols for a deadly shooting spree that began in the Fulton County Courthouse was the year's No. 4 story.
After more than three years and a tangled trail of legal delays, a jury found Nichols guilty of murder. But it deadlocked over whether he deserves the death penalty, forcing a judge to sentence him to life in prison without parole. Now some legislators are intent on changing the state's death penalty rules.
The stubborn drought still squeezing parts of the state emerged as the No. 5 story of the year. While a soggy December helped elevate most of the region from the epic conditions, much of north Georgia - including devastated Lake Lanier - remains in a "severe" drought.
The No. 6 story was the deadly explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in February near Savannah that killed 14 workers and injured dozens more. Investigators determined the blast was caused by sugar dust that ignited like gunpowder in the plant's storage silos.
The presidential election, which dominated national headlines, was voted the No. 7 story in Georgia. Democrat Barack Obama's campaign recruited thousands of volunteers focused on turning the state blue, but Republican John McCain managed to claim Georgia's 15 electoral votes.
The No. 8 story of the year broke just hours after New Year's Day.
Meredith Emerson was abducted while walking with her dog that day in the north Georgia mountains, and police later found her body. Authorities soon arrested Gary Michael Hilton, who is now serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to her murder.
The Delta Air Lines merger with Northwest Airlines took the No. 9 slot, as the combination made the Atlanta-based carrier the world's largest airline. It completed a remarkable turnaround for Delta, which had filed for bankruptcy in 2005.
Clayton County's education woes was the year's tenth-ranked story. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools revoked the county's accreditation after it failed to meet a range of recommendations. More than 3,200 students have since bolted.
Stories close to making the list included convicted murderer Troy Davis' efforts to get a new trial and avoid execution, a legislative session that again ended in gridlock and an explosion at a Dalton law firm that killed the person responsible and injured four others.
(AP)
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Bill Clinton coming to stump for Martin
Chambliss and Martin squared off, along with Libertarian candidate Allen Buckley, at a Georgia Public Television debate on the Sunday before the Nov. 4th elections. (Dave Bender)
Former President Bill Clinton will headline a rally for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Martin in Georgia.
Clinton is the first big name Democrat to stump for Martin in his Dec. 2 runoff battle with Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
Republican U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss at a recent press conference at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. (Dave Bender)
Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain lent his star power to a Chambliss rally Thursday and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will stump with Chambliss Sunday.
McCain claimed Georgia's electoral votes on Election Day and Huckabee won the state's Feb. 5 presidential primary.
Clinton won Georgia in his 1992 presidential bid, the last Democrat to carry the state in the race for the White House.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Martin during a recent press conference at his headquarters in Atlanta. (Dave Bender/file)
Martin said Saturday that Clinton - who balanced the budget - would underscore the failures of Republican leadership in Washington when it came to the economy.
Click here for more GPB News election coverage.
(AP)
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Chambliss, Martin rev up for runoff
Republican incumbent Senator Saxby Chamblis and Democratic Senate candidate Jim Martin and at the GPBTV pre-election debate. (Dave Bender/file)
Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin were in full campaign mode this weekend, trying to coax enough votes to prevail in a Dec. 2 runoff election.
Republican incumbent Senator Saxby Chamblis talking with reporters at a press conference held at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. (Dave Bender/file)
Chambliss’ camp is preparing for a visit from former GOP presidential candidate John McCain. Martin is meeting with Cobb County Democrats and planned to visit a party phone bank operation in Decatur.
Democratic Senate race candidate Jim Martin, talking to reporters at a press conference in downtown Atlanta. (Dave Bender/file)
With less than four weeks until they face voters again, neither campaign was waiting for Secretary of State Karen Handel to make it official when she certifies election results next week.
With 99 percent of precincts reporting throughout Georgia, neither Chambliss nor Martin accumulated enough ballots to pull above the needed 50 percent plus one of the vote. The Moultrie Republican is just short, with 49.8 percent. Martin, a former state lawmaker from Atlanta, has 46.8 percent. The race also included Libertarian Allen Buckley, who drew 3.4 percent.
Military and overseas ballots were among the last to be tallied by county officials. To be counted, they had to arrive by Friday.
The state’s most populous county had been set to certify its results Saturday. But a spokesman for Fulton County’s Board of Elections said problems with a faulty memory card delayed the effort.
Voters register to cast their ballot in advance voting at the Fulton Co. Government Center polling station in downtown Atlanta. (Dave Bender)
Fulton County Board of Elections spokesman Mark Henderson said the problem had been resolved but officials decided to audit the process before making the elections results official. The certification is now expected to take place Sunday or Monday, Henderson said.
Handel’s office has criticized Fulton County for being slow to count thousands of absentee ballots and her office is investigating. Henderson said county workers were exhausted after a marathon Election Day and were sent home for a few hours to rest.
The expected Chambliss-Martin contest is already drawing a national spotlight to Georgia.
The race is one of three unresolved Senate contests nationwide, along with Minnesota and Alaska. All involve Republican incumbents. If Democrats capture all three, it would give them a 60-seat majority in the Senate, a margin needed to block Republican filibusters.
Chambliss’ campaign said they’ve also been in touch with McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, about a possible Georgia visit.
McCain carried Georgia on Election Day by 52 percent to President-elect Barack Obama’s 47 percent.
Nonetheless, Martin has asked Obama to help out, but no word yet on whether he’ll stump for Martin.
Then President-elect Bill Clinton came to Georgia to campaign for Democratic Sen. Wyche Fowler in his 1992 runoff race. But even with the high-profile help, Fowler went on to lose to Republican Paul Coverdell in what was the last U.S. Senate runoff in Georgia.
Martin and Chambliss arguing a point during the GPBTV pre-election debate. At bottom is Libertarian candidate Allan Buckley. (Dave Bender/file)
Click here for more GPB News election coverage.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Election Day: Down to the wire reminder
An elderly voter casts her ballot at the Fulton County Government Center, Tuesday Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)
Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel reminds voters:
Voters participating in the election on Election Day will be required to show one of the following six forms of photo ID:
- 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.
- If a voter does not have one of these forms of photo identification, the voter can obtain a free voter ID card at their county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
Anyone with additional questions about Georgia’s photo ID requirement can visit www.GAPhotoID.com or call toll free (877) 725-9797.
Election Day marks 101st birthday for Ga. man
As Americans flock to the polls for a historic Election Day, Ellis Joel Daniel of Snellville will make a bit of his own history.
The World War II veteran and former U.S. postman turns 101 on Tuesday, and he knows a thing or two about voting in presidential elections.
Daniel, who voted absentee a month ago, has cast ballots in every race since 1928.
In 1932, Daniel threw his support to Franklin Roosevelt. That support ended because he believed Roosevelt allowed the Russians to take control of eastern Europe after World War II.
Daniel grew up in the small town of Millen in east Georgia. He served 24 years in the Army Reserve and three years of active duty during World War II.
Daniel says despite Sen. Barack Obama's lead in the polls, he thinks Sen. John McCain will pull out a victory.
Click here for more GPB News elections coverage.
(AP)
2 Ga. counties consider extended voting hours
Voting instructions at the Fulton County Government Center. (Dave Bender)
Fulton County elections officials decided against asking for federal permission to extend voting hours on Election Day.
But officials in Clayton County are still considering whether to ask for expanded hours because of the heavy turnout in early and advance voting.
The Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections said Monday that the number of voting machines is enough to handle the crush of voters.
Polls are normally open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Georgia.
More than 2 million people have voted so far - or about 36 percent of the state's 5.6 million registered voters.
Click here for more GPB News election coverage.
(AP)
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Officials: few problems in final days of early voting
Muscogee Co. voters line up outside the main branch of the Columbus public library, Friday, Oct. 31, 2008. (Dave Bender)
Voters throughout Georgia lined up under sunny skies on Friday and Saturday to cast a ballot on the final days of advance voting.
Voters patiently waited an average of 40 minutes to 1.5 hours to cast their ballots in one of the libraries' reading rooms, Friday, Oct. 31, 2008. (Dave Bender).
In Columbus, long, but fast moving lines greeted some 5,000 Muscogee County residents casting early ballots at the Columbus Library, according to election technician Tamika Booker:
“We’ve been having about 1,200 a day here at the library, as well as at one of our other voting sites. Two of our other ones have had a little bit less than that – maybe about 800.”
Jimmy Morris, a security guard at the Troup Co. Government Center assists voters waiting to cast their ballots, Friday, Oct. 31, 2008. (Dave Bender)
Further to the north, at the Troup County courthouse in Lagrange, Chief Registrar Donna Williams reports a similar turnout:
“It’s been a tremendous, great turnout. We’ve voted almost 13,000 people so far, and we’re steady going.”Officials say that statewide, the longest wait times during the past week have averaged two to three hours.
In Coweta County, polls were open on Saturday from 9 to noon at the county administration building in downtown Newnan. Some 200 residents cast their ballot, according to the Associated Press.
Residents got a federal ok to hold Saturday voting there, in 1986.
State elections officials say over a thousand lawyers will oversee Tuesday’s voting. The attorneys will represent the parties, the state and federal government, special interests and voting rights groups.
Polls for the presidential election open across Georgia at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Click here for more GPB News elections coverage.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Handel: no mechanism for Saturday voting
Sign at the Fulton County Government Center, explaining early voting procedures, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)
Secretary of State Karen Handel -- a Republican who oversees Georgia elections -- says state law doesn't provide for weekend voting and prohibits voting on the Monday before Election Day.
Democratic Party Chair Jane Kidd on Tuesday called on Handel to request that the Department of Justice allow polls to remain open longer during the week, over the weekend, and on Monday, November 3:
“We have known that both the Democratic and Republican parties, their candidates, and even your office itself are encouraging voters to avail themselves of advance and early voting. And, we have known since advance voting began that large numbers of voters are doing just that. I am just mystified that your elections division is seemingly so unprepared for the wave of voters we all knew was coming."Handel responded saying that county officials will be working through the weekend to prepare for the crush of voters.
Lines at the ballot box were down to under four hours in most places by Tuesday.
(AP)
Click here for more on this story.
Click here for more GPB News election coverage.
Gov. Perdue: 'Democracy's working' at the polls
“I think democracy works best the more people we have vote, but frankly even with early voting and the lines…I take that as good news when people are willing to stand in the line to cast that vote, that means democracy’s working."As election day nears, the governor said that the state is prepared to handle issues as they arise.
“We vote infrequently and we try to manage the demand…And sometimes we’re surprised by that, just as a few years ago when we didn’t have enough printed ballots. The way we cast our ballot now – that’s not an issue. But the number of places, the demand – we’ll respond to that dynamically as we go along."
Voters waiting in line to cast their ballot at the Fulton County Government Center, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)
Early voting ends this Friday.