Columbus, Georgia

March 6, 2003





The Board of Elections and Registration Board meeting was held March 6, 2003 at

2:00 p.m.



Members present: Jan Dickens ? Chairperson

Margaret

Jenkins

Eleanor White

Kenneth

Barfield

Walter J.

Wright, Jr.



The Chairperson called the meeting to order.



Mr. Wright made a motion to defer the board?s agenda and address the matter on

which we have invited the guests so that they can return to work. Motion

seconded, vote unanimous.



Captain McCrea of the Sheriff?s Department and Gert Jackman of the Victim

Witness Program was asked to attend the March board meeting to discuss the

accessibility of the West Wing. The chairperson stated that the feeling of the

board is that we are denying the public the right to come to the Election and

Registration Office to register to vote and vote absentee. Captain McCrea

stated to the board that it not feasible and realistically its not going to

happen that the West Wing will be opened. He stated that the equipment and

manpower is not available. The board asked the price of the equipment and the

annual salary of the personnel to operate the equipment. Captain McCrea said

that a survey was conducted of the traffic that was coming through the East

Wing. A significant percentage was going to the tag office and that made it

feasible to open the East Wing. He also stated that he did not think the

volume of traffic coming into the West Wing from 1st Avenue would justify

opening the doors because there is very little parking available on the West

side.



Ken Barfield made a motion that the chairperson write a letter to the Mayor

informing him of the problem, the discussion of today, ask him what direction

the board should go, and ask what action the board should take. He also wanted

to ask for any ideas to resolve the problem in the best interest of the

public. Motion died for lack of a second.



The Chairperson stated that she was willing to contact the councilors and get

their views on making the West Wing accessible to the public.





Ken asked for information on the possible relocation of the Dimon precinct.

Ken asked when complaints were made about the location of the precinct.

Margaret Jenkins stated that she did not know if a complaint was made only that

the precinct manager had discussed the possibility of moving the precinct to

St. John?s A.M.E. Church. Ken stated that he would like to go and look at the

church before a decision is made about moving the precinct.



Ken asked the status of the flags for the office. He was told that we should

receive them within the next week.



Ken stated to the board that he had a letter from Cathy Cox to the Governor

stating that the old voting equipment could be used for tabulating absentee

ballots. The Chairperson stated that we are mandated to use the equipment that

is used throughout the state. He would like for the matter to be looked into

to see if the old equipment could be used for absentee ballot tabulating.



The board members will take the revised by-laws home to read and will bring

them to the March board meeting for discussion.



Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.





Diane Scrimpshire Jan Dickens

Recording Secretary Chairperson