Sec'y of State Handel in Gubernatorial Run

Secretary of State Karen Handel says she’s running for governor.

The race to replace Governor Sonny Perdue in 2010 is shaping up to be a crowded Republican field. Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine have already announced their bids and built up their campaign funds.

The only Democrat in the race so far is David Poythress, a former commander of the National Guard. House Minority leader Dubose Porter says he’ll announce his intentions after the legislative session.

(Associated Press)

Voter Cited by Barack Obama Turns 107

One of the oldest voters for the nation's first black president, who was mentioned by name in his acceptance speech on Election Night, is celebrating her 107th birthday today. On Nov. 4, President-elect Barack Obama introduced Anne Nixon Cooper of Atlanta to the world as a woman who "was born just a generation past slavery … when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin." For her big day, Ann Nixon Cooper plans to have a private dinner with friends and family.

(Associated Press)

State certifies elections, runoffs

It's official. There will be a runoff election for Georgia's U.S. Senate race. Candidates Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin have been preparing for a re-match, and today the Secretary of State certified all election results from November 4th. The Secretary of State also certified two other runoff elections for the Public Service Commission in District 4 and for the Georgia State Appeals Court. Early voting is next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Advance voting starts November 24th through Wednesday the 26th. The runoff election will be held statewide on December 2nd. For a full list of certified races, click here.

Fulton wraps absentee counting

State elections officials are a step closer to officially determining whether Georgia’s U.S. Senate race will have to go to a runoff. That closer step came just before midnight, when election workers in Fulton County wrapped-up the counting of nearly 31,000 absentee ballots. Certification should come by tomorrow.

Fulton county has been in spotlight for taking overtime to count votes, which has drawn the anger of Secretary of State Karen Handel, who’s called for an investigation. On Wednesday morning, Fulton County poll workers were allowed to leave early for a rest. Handel threatened to report the county to the state elections board for violation of Georgia election laws. But Fulton County Voter Education Coordinator Mark Henderson says the county took steps to make sure no laws were broken:

"Our director called our board chair, who then called the county attorney to interpret the election code to see if it would be a violation. Our county attorney didn't see a violation based on the state of Georgia's elections code".

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports this morning that the Office of Inspector General will conduct a complete investigation of Fulton County.

Handel to report Fulton County election officials

Fulton County elections officials are in hot water with state officials over uncounted ballots. Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel says she will report county officials to the state election board. The reason—sending workers home while thousands of ballots remained un-counted earlier this week. Handel says the tally of more than 30,000 absentee ballots could have been finished had workers not left early Wednesday morning following a long election day Tuesday. Fulton County officials say workers needed the rest. Fulton has key ballots important to the determination of the U.S. Senate race not yet tallied.

Voter turnout--less than projected

Voter turnout numbers in Georgia were not quite as robust as what elections officials projected. Guesses of 80% or more were not seen in the state Tuesday. Numbers from the Secretary of State’s office indicate just under 67% of registered voters turned-out--that’s a slight increase from the mark of 66.3% for 2004’s presidential election. There was the big boost in voter registration this year, which added about half-a-million new voters to the rolls.

State Legislature--post election

Republicans seem to have withstood attempts by Georgia Democrats to put a major dent in their majority in the state Legislature.

Most incumbent legislators in the state Senate coasted to an election victory Tuesday night. And Democrats seem likely to make only marginal gains in the state House.

Republicans currently control the House with a 107-73 majority. Republicans held on to 104 seats, with another one tilting their way. Democrats locked up 72 seats, and another three are leaning their way.

The state Senate, meanwhile, is in a holding pattern. Republicans control the chamber by a 34-22 margin and that didn't change Tuesday.

--Associated Press--

Election day voting underway in Georgia

Voting officials said they expected some 2,000 voters throughout the day at the polling station at the Intown Community Church in the Toco Hills neighborhood, Dekalb Co., Nov. 4, 2008. (Dave Bender)

The polls are open across the state, and turnout has already been reported as heavy in many areas. State elections officials expect well over two-million, perhaps near three-million registered Georgians will cast their ballots today by the time precincts close. Officials remind voters that if you’re in line by 7pm, you will get to cast a ballot.


Advance voting at the Columbus Public Library, Friday, Oct. 31, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Georgia has 15 electoral votes that will go to the top presidential choice in the state. Also to be decided by voters--the hotly-contested U.S. Senate battle, various district races, and other contests in the state.

Stay with GPB for complete coverage of the election. Check for updates anytime by going to gpb.org/election. In addition, GPB Radio will provide comprehensive coverage starting at 7pm. Along with NPR's national coverage, GPB will have reporters fanned-out across the state to cover all the major Georgia races.

Early voting ends today

Today is the final day for early and advance voting in Georgia. Reports of long lines have continued to come in from some parts of the state. Some voters at one Atlanta location waited until nearly 10:30 last night to cast their ballots. The Secretary of State’s office says computer problems were to blame--trouble with the machines connecting to the state’s voting system. State elections officials say this was an isolated case, and most polling locations across Georgia were running smoothly yesterday. An update of early voting numbers as of yesterday from the Secretary of State’s office: more than 1.5 million ballots have been cast early, from a pool of almost 5.6 million registered Georgians.

No changes to early voting schedule

As early--and now advance voting--continues throughout the state, Georgians have experienced long lines to cast ballots in several counties. The crush at polling locations has prompted the state Democratic Party to call on Republican Secretary of State Karen Handel to extend polling hours, and keep polls open through the weekend. Handel says that cannot happen as state law does not provide for weekend voting, or provide for voting the day before Election Day. Handel says county officials will be busy through the weekend preparing for Tuesday’s expected flood of voters.

Absentee vote problems in Gwinnett County

19,000 absentee ballots have been reprinted in metro Atlanta’s Gwinnett County. Officials found problems with the forms after routine testing last week--ovals on the ballot voters use to mark their choices were too thick for optical scanning machines to read. Gwinnett officials say they will also have to hand-copy votes from at least 10,000 absentee ballots onto new ones that can be read by a machine. Members of each political party will monitor the transfer of the votes. An elections official says the issue will not interfere with votes counted in the general election.

Television shows target Latino voters

The Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials is teaming up with a local Spanish-language television station to educate Latino voters about the upcoming national election. On Saturday, Univision 34 will premier the first of three episodes of its community affairs show "Nuestra Georgia" to the election. All three shows will be nonpartisan and focus on educating the state's Latino electorate about the voting process and the positions of the two candidates. Experts estimate there are about100,000 Latino voters registered in Georgia, and another 100,000 eligible Latinos who are not registered.

State's voting machines to get court challenge

A coalition of voter groups will have a legal challenge heard today in a Fulton County courtroom. Voter Georgia wants to get rid of electronic voting machines in the state, saying the lack of a verifiable paper trail is illegal and unconstitutional. Georgia started using the machines in 2002, becoming the first in the nation to implement that type of system statewide. A record number of people are expected to flock to the polls for the general election now less than two months away.

Georgia holds primary runoff election

It was the resounding victory for Jim Martin in the Democratic runoff for the U.S. Senate. Martin took 60-percent of the vote to 40-percent for Vernon Jones. Martin last night was already looking ahead to November’s general election fight against incumbent Saxby Chambliss, and the Republican’s war-chest of four-million dollars.

"It's not about money, that's what the voters are saying. They want people who are genuine...who are talking about their issues, and we're going to do that."

In other various runoff election results: The Democratic face-off for Chatham County district attorney--Larry Chisolm won with 66 percent to 34 percent over Jerry Rothschild. The Republican battle for D.A. of the Piedmont Circuit was taken by Brad Smith--56 to 43 percent over Donna Sikes.

For more election coverage, please check out our website, gpb.org, and check out the Georgia News page.

NAACP looks ahead to July/November elections

Voter turnout has been high nationwide at this year's Presidential primaries. Voting has also been under the spotlight lately because several states have passed laws requiring photo identification. Georgia is included in that list and you do have to present a government-issued ID at the polls here. But it's been controversial.

Opponents say requiring photo ID at the polls makes voting a burden for some elderly and minorities who may not have an ID. Last week the U.S. Supreme Court disagreed and upheld Indiana's right to require photo ID at the polls. But the controversy is not over in Georgia. In advance of July’s statewide elections, the Georgia NAACP has begun working to ensure all eligible Georgians get to vote.

The group is hoping to avoid a repeat of Super Tuesday 2008, in November. The group's President Edward DuBose says nearly a thousand voters were purged in February from local rolls based upon inaccurate data.

"Our concern now as we move into a historic presidential election, is that these rulings coincide so closely with an election that is history making."

Adopting a strategy that has its origins in the civil rights movement of yesteryear, the group plans a massive grass roots undertaking, to ensure that everyone who is eligible has the proper identification.

"We've got to engage our coalition partners like ministers, and fraternity and sorority organizations, to get out in some cases, knocking on doors. Our question anf our concern at the same time is, will Georgia be ready?"

The group says it has planned local and regional information session, right up to July's statement elections and on into the November presidential showdown.

And, if necessary, the NAACP says following both elections, it will call for public hearings in case of election rights violations.

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.

Election day in Georgia

Voters head to the polls today across the state to decide a myriad of races for mayors and city council members, along with a number of referendum questions. Mayors are being decided in cities such as Macon, Savannah, Commerce and Winder. Ballot questions include in Columbus, where residents will decide whether its government will get redevelopment powers with tax allocation districts. Voters must bring a photo ID to the polls, which are open until 7pm.