State officials say all appears to have gone well with a first test of Georgia's photo voter ID law. Special elections were held yesterday in 23 counties with low turnout reported. The Secretary of State's office says over 35-hundred photo ID cards were issued to Georgians. A little over 500 cards were given out since a widespread effort began August 1st to let voters know of the new provision. A better test of the photo ID law should come in the February 5th presidential primary, when turnout is expected to be much higher.
Showing posts with label special election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label special election. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Voter ID gets test in Georgia today
The voter ID law is being put to the test today in special elections across 22 Georgia counties. State officials have covered the gamut in getting the word out to Georgians. A quarter million letters were sent out, radio commercials were run, a special hotline and Web site were established, and special training was held for poll workers. The Secretary of State’s office reported that about 300 free photo ID’s had been given out as of the weekend. Voter turnout for elections today is expected to be very low. Issues on the ballots include special-option sales taxes, as well as various local races.
Monday, July 16, 2007
10th District to elect US Representative tomorrow
Tenth Congressional District residents head to the polls Tuesday to elect a replacement for late Congressman Charlie Norwood.
Two conservative Republicans are in this run-off: former State Senator Jim Whitehead of Evans, and physician Paul Broun of Athens. They beat out eight other candidates in June’s special election.
Athens-Clarke County Election Supervisor Gayle Schraeder is predicting an eight to 10 percent voter turnout. Columbia County Registration Coordinator Nancy Gay has a slightly more optimistic forecast.
"For the July 17th run-off, we’re predicting anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of the registered voters to come out and participate in the run-off."
The main campaign issues revolved around local politics. Whitehead said he would favor the Augusta area for any funding opportunities, while Broun said he would serve the entire district and not just the needs of his hometown, Athens.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Candidates register to run for Norwood's seat
Candidates are lining up to fill the northeast Georgia congressional seat left vacant by the late Charlie Norwood. This morning four candidates registered with the Secretary of State – Republicans State Senator Jim Whitehead, Paul Broun, and 27-year-old Erik Underwood, and Democrat James Marlow. The special election is scheduled for June 19th. Charlie Norwood was a Republican and Augusta native who died in February after a long battle with cancer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)