Georgia early voting begins as expected in Wilkinson

By lunchtime Tuesday, eighty-something people in Wilkinson County had already cast their vote for president and other down-ballot races.

The first day of early/advance voting “went smoothly,” according to Elections Superintendent Kelly Chatman. All early/advance voting in Wilkinson County takes place at the courthouse in Irwinton. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Also, there are two “early voting Saturdays” during this primary season, which are Oct. 19 and Oct. 26. In other words, during the second half of October, the only two days when there won’t be early voting are Sunday, Oct. 20 and Sunday, Oct. 27. 

In terms of the general election in Georgia, Tuesday was an interesting day in more ways than one. A Fulton County Superior Court judge ruled that all county election results must be certified and turned over to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office by Nov. 11, which is the Monday after the general election. The Georgia State Elections Board voted back in August to give election officials at the county level permission to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” into possible voter fraud or irregularities. No dates or timetables were offered, which meant that the “reasonable inquiries” could’ve lasted weeks or even months. 

A steady stream of lawsuits followed, and Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney on Tuesday ruled that county election officials have a “mandatory fixed obligation” to certify the results in their county. Added the ruling: “If election superintendents were, as Plaintiff urges, free to play investigator, prosecutor, jury, and judge and so – because of a unilateral determination of error or fraud – refuse to certify election results, Georgia voters would be silenced. Our Constitution and our Election Code do not allow for that to happen.”

Another hotbutton issue this election season is certified poll watchers. The State Elections Board more recently voted to give more access to poll watchers at precincts and around board of registrars offices. Thousands of people signed up around metro Atlanta and have undergone the training. In Wilkinson County, however, the deadline came and went without any certified poll watchers signing up.