DeKalb County Responds to Multiple Bomb Threats

DeKalb County Voter Registration & Elections has received bomb threats at seven locations, including five voting precincts across the county.

DeKalb County Police Department is performing bomb sweeps at the following locations:

Precincts:
•    New Bethel AME Church, 8350 Rockbridge Rd., Lithonia
•    New Life Community Center, 3592 Flat Shoals Rd., Decatur
•    North DeKalb Senior Center, 3393 Malone Dr., Chamblee
•    Reid H. Cofer Library, 5234 Lavista Rd., Tucker
•    Wesley Chapel Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Rd., Decatur

Other locations:
•    Stonecrest (Old Sam’s Club) – this is not an active polling location. 
•    Salem Panola Library, 5137 Salem Rd., Lithonia

“Every asset that we have will be deployed to ensure that every citizen who wants to vote will be given that opportunity and every vote cast will be counted,” DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.

“Rest assured that we are working quickly to ensure every voter will have an opportunity to cast their ballot despite these bomb threats,” said DeKalb VRE Executive Director Keisha Smith. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are suspending voting at these polling locations until we have clearance from DeKalb Police to reopen the facilities.”

This is a precautionary measure for the safety of voters and poll workers. Once each location is cleared, voters will be able to re-enter the facility and cast their ballots.

The DeKalb County Law Department is in the process of seeking an emergency order extending the voting times at the affected polling locations.