Peach Tree Times

Georgia is approaching the deadline for certifying its general election results, set for Friday, November 22. The Secretary of State reported that over 5 million voters participated in the election, with more than 73% of registered voters casting their ballots. This high turnout indicates growing trust in the electoral process despite challenges like bomb threats at polling sites.

Common Cause Georgia was actively involved in overseeing early voting, election day activities, and post-certification processes across the state, focusing on counties such as Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, and Forsyth.

In Cobb County, voter turnout reached 79%, with issues related to voting machine synchronization and ballot registration discrepancies. Fulton County saw a 71% turnout and extended its certification process beyond the initial deadline. DeKalb County had a 74% turnout with minor discrepancies resolved during certification. Forsyth County recorded the highest turnout at 83%, although some ballots were rejected due to timing issues under The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).

Rosario Palacios, organizing director of Common Cause Georgia, stated: “In this election, Common Cause Georgia ensured that approximately 150+ unique polling places were monitored across Georgia.” She highlighted their efforts with "over 540 poll monitoring shifts" involving "200+ volunteers," emphasizing their commitment to voter protection.

Looking forward to 2025, Palacios mentioned plans to advocate for disability access improvements and increased Spanish-language voting resources in certain counties. Additionally, they will focus on combating misinformation campaigns targeting minority communities and monitoring legislative efforts that may restrict voter access.

Palacios concluded by affirming their vigilance in tracking legislation related to voter access, election security, and redistricting to ensure fair representation.