DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections Certifies Primary Elections, Focuses on Upcoming Runoff Contests

DeKalb VRE modifies dates for advance voting for runoff elections

After initially delaying certification of primary election results following technical issues related to the Commissioner District 2 contest, DeKalb Board of Registration and Elections voted 4 to 1 to certify the election during a special called meeting on June 3. Board member Anthony Lewis (R) cast the lone dissenting vote. Additionally election officials announced an updated advance voting schedule for DeKalb’s runoff elections.

“We have undertaken a comprehensive approach, inclusive of a three-person team that validated each vote through a visual and verbal tabulation process, to ensure that every ballot cast in this election was counted and appropriately assigned to the proper candidate,” said DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb VRE) Executive Director Keisha Smith. “Technical errors associated with precinct reassignments through statewide redistricting efforts and the removal of a candidate who withdrew from the contest created an immediate challenge that prompted our office, in coordination with Georgia Secretary of State officials, to proceed with a hand count to determine the outcome of the race and the proper tabulations of vote. I can assure our voters and candidates that we have accomplished that goal.”

Additionally, DeKalb VRE noted internal audits implemented across May 24 races to ensure accuracy in those contests.

“We are aware that there may be concerns related to contests outside of the District 2 races, so we have taken additional internal steps to ensure the accuracy of votes casts by following state protocols and guidelines for auditing purposes to verify votes,” Smith added.

Promptly following the posting of unofficial and incomplete results from the May 24 election, technical errors were identified that impacted the DeKalb County Commission District 2 race.

1. Technical programming issue arose following one candidate’s withdrawal led to inaccurate vote assignments in the contest.
2. A misalignment of five precincts due to statewide redistricting created a technical issue prior to advance voting that required an updated voter database be applied to the District 2 race.

In coordination with the Secretary of State, DeKalb VRE moved forward with a hand count to determine an accurate and verifiable accounting of ballots cast by District 2 voters. A subsequent internal audit confirmed that no additional races were impacted by these isolated technical issues.  

 

Runoff Election Details

During the Specially Called Meeting on June 3, DeKalb BRE approved various changes impacting advance voting and election day voting in the upcoming runoff elections.

The following locations will be available for advance voting, from June 13 to June 17, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registered DeKalb voters can vote at any location during the advance voting period.

2022 Primary Runoff Election Advance Voting Locations       *denotes drop box locations
Berean Christian Church	2201 Young Road Stone Mountain, GA 30088
Briarwood Recreation *	2235 Briarwood Way NE Atlanta, GA 30329
Dunwoody Library *	5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road Dunwoody, GA 30338
Emory University	1599 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30322
DeKalb Voter Registration and Elections Office *	4380 Memorial Drive Ste. 300 Decatur, GA 30032
North DeKalb Senior Center	3393 Malone Dr Chamblee, GA 30341
Gallery at South DeKalb (South DeKalb Mall) *	2801 Candler Rd Decatur, GA 30034
Stonecrest Library *	3123 Klondike Road Stonecrest, GA 30038
Tucker- Reid H. Cofer Library *	5234 LaVista Road Tucker, GA 30084

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I’d like to recognize my staff, who have worked tirelessly over the last several weeks and will continue to work hard to ensure a smooth primary election runoff,” said Smith.

“Early voting is right around the corner, so we continue to encourage voters to make a plan to vote!”

For more information on DeKalb County VRE, please visit www.dekalbvotes.com.