A 1998 Georgia law authorized the state to have mobile voting facilities, but voters in the Peach State’s most recent presidential election who voted at such places acted against that law’s original intent.
State Sen. Mike Dugan (R-Carrollton) said this Thursday as he spoke to members of the State Senate’s Ethics Committee. Dugan said this as he discussed a new bill he’s sponsoring to reform the state’s election systems.
“The mobile facilities were intended to serve as a backup for existing polling locations should there be an issue with those existing facilities or those facilities were inadequate in size to meet the population demands. The wording in the 98 law is vague,” Dugan said.
Dugan said he inserted new language to clarify any confusion.
Dugan’s bill, in its current form, says a county superintendent must provide portable or movable polling facilities to replace any existing polling place — but only if needed.
“Portable or movable polling facilities shall only be deployed and used to replace an existing polling place when the existing polling place has been deemed to be unsafe for human occupation by a licensed commercial building inspector employed or contracted by the county or municipality or has suffered a failure of utility services that provide water or electricity,” according to Dugan’s bill.
“Portable or movable polling places shall be located within 2,640 feet of the existing polling place that has been deemed unsafe or suffered a loss of utility services that provide water or electricity.”
If someone wanted to replace an existing polling place with a portable or movable building then a superior court judge would have to approve, according to the bill.
As The Georgia Star News reported Thursday, Dugan’s bill would also limit the ability of the State Election Board and the secretary of state to enter into certain consent agreements.
As The Star News reported last month, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said he entered into a controversial Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release with Stacey Abrams because members of the Georgia Attorney General’s Office recommended he do so.
Exactly 30 state senators are currently cosponsoring Dugan’s bill.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
