Columbus, Georgia

September 4, 2003





The Board of Elections and Registration Board meeting was held September 4,

2003 at 2:00 p.m.



Members Present: Jan Dickens ? Chairperson

Margaret

Jenkins

Eleanor

White

Ken Barfield

Walter J.

Wright, Jr.





S Y N O P S I S



Mr. Wright, Vice-chairperson, called the September 4, 2003 board meeting to

order at the request of Chairperson, Jan Dickens.



Motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes of the August board

meeting. Vote was unanimous.



NEW BUSINESS:



Nancy advised the board that they need to issue a call for the Special Election

that the school board has requested to take place on November 4, 2003. The

call of the election has to be advertised for 5 weeks immediately preceding the

election in the legal organ of the county.



Senate Bill 258: This Bill passed in the Senate and changes the way the

election is conducted as a result of HAVA being precleared by the Justice

Department. It was precleared on August 18th and any election thereafter has

to be followed according to the guidelines. One of the guidelines is the

addition of four different types of identification that can be used by the

elector. The precinct card that is issued may not be used as a form of ID.



Advance Voting: Advance voting is where an elector can come to the office the

week immediately preceding the election, Monday thru Friday and vote absentee

with out having to declare a reason. An absentee request will be required and

they will only be allowed to vote in the office. This will impact the number

of absentee ballots to be ordered. Blank ballots will be ordered with no

precinct name or number printed on them. This way the ballots can be used as

provisional, absentee and challenged ballots. A number or precinct name will

be stamped on the ballot before being issued to the voter.



Nancy asked the board for a number of ballots to be ordered. Before the board

decided on the number to be ordered, she advised them that the DRE can be used

for absentee voting in the office. The touch screen voting machines will only

be used for in office absentee voting only. Nancy explained to the board the

procedure that will be followed in the use of the touch screen units. Mr.

Wright asked the board?s pleasure on shall we or shall we not use the DRE units

for absentee ballots. Ken Barfield made a motion that the units not be

allowed. Motion failed for lack of a second. Mr. Wright asked for a motion to

allow the DRE units for absentee voting. Margaret Jenkins made a motion to

allow the office to use the DRE units for absentee voting. Motion seconded by

Eleanor White. Motion was carried four to one.



IDR: The board was told that there will be a new column on the electors list

(IDR) that signifies the voter registered by mail, and has to show

identification before they are allowed to cast their ballot. If they do not

have an ID, they will be directed to vote a provisional ballot. The voter has

to come to the office within two days and show their identification. Ken

Barfield made a motion that 20,000 ballots be ordered for the November 4, 2003

Special Election. After discussion, Board agreed to 12, 000 ballots. Margaret

Jenkins seconded the motion. Vote was unanimous.



POLLING PLACE LOCATIONS: Part of the HAVA Act is to have each polling location

in each county be surveyed for handicap accessibility. The Secretary of

State?s Office mailed to each county a polling location survey that had to be

completed by the end of August 28th. Nancy contacted the Department of Labor?s

Vocational Rehab Section and they completed the survey for us. They evaluated

all 48 polling sites and Nancy reported to the board that none of our polling

sites passed. Some of the locations violations are minor, i.e., like not

having a blue wheelchair sign on the door designating handicap accessible.



Ken Barfield made a motion to move the Comer precinct to the old Fox School

location that is being developed into a senior citizen activity center, after

the November election. Motion was seconded by Eleanor White, vote unanimous.

Nancy asked the board to consider moving the Double Churches precinct to the

Double Churches Middle School. Ken made the motion to move the precinct to the

new location. Motion seconded, vote unanimous. Nancy also stated to the board

that the Shaw precinct needs to be divided because of the growth in the area.



OLD BUSINESS:



By-Laws: Ken made a motion that the by-laws be resolved at the October board

meeting. Motion seconded. Vote unanimous. Board members were reminded to

bring their copies of the by-laws.



Being no further business to discuss, Mr. Wright asked for a motion to adjourn

the meeting. Ken Barfield made the motion, vote was unanimous.









Diane Scrimpshire Walter W. Wright, Jr.

Recording Secretary Vice-Chairperson