Candidates weigh in on election issues
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Bid to change mayoral elections fails before Charter Commission By CATHY COBBS newsroom@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — The discussion was different, but the outcome remained the same — Dunwoody’s next mayor must win by a majority, rather than a plurality vote. The Dunwoody Charter Commission on Oct. 19 revisited a suggested amendment proposed by Chairman Robert Wittenstein that would change the percent of the votes needed to win the city’s mayoral race from a majority of 50 percent plus one vote, to a plurality of 45 percent. The commission had considered the measure at a previous meeting, but
it failed by a vote of 2-1, with one member, Wayne Radloff, abstaining. Commissioners Amy Swygert and Wittenstein voted for the change. Ann Hicks voted against the measure. The measure failed because it did not receive a majority from the panel, which had four voting members present at the time. The commission had passed at an earlier meeting a measure that would allow council members to win their seats by garnering a plurality of votes in an election. Wittenstein said, in light of that passage, he felt it necessary to revisit the proposed change to the charter to even the playing field when it came to election standards.
“I feel like, because we’ve had discussions about this since the meeting, we may want to look at this again,” Wittenstein said. “(To have the mayor’s race decided by a majority vote) wouldn’t be my preference, but it wouldn’t be terrible either.” Rather than abstaining from the vote as he did previously, Radloff voted against the motion, along with Hicks. Wittenstein and Swygert voted for the proposed change. In other action at the meeting, the commission voted unanimously to recommend a changes to the charter regarding the submission of the operating budget to the first day of the 10th
month of the fiscal year, and passage of the budget on or before the 12th month of the fiscal year. The charter now calls for the budget to be submitted for review on the ninth month of the fiscal year and approved by the 11th month of the fiscal year. The recommended changes to the charter must be approved in the Georgia General Assembly to set up a voter referendum. Residents would then have a final say on all changes. Wittenstein said he would prepare a report on all the suggested charter changes to be reviewed at the commission’s next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 2.
Election officials address missing absentee ballot concerns By TIFFANY GRIFFITH newsroom@appenmediagroup.com NORTH ATLANTA, Ga. — Whether on the ballot or casting a ballot, whether voting from the left or the right, there is one thing most Americans can agree on — there is a lot at stake for this election. The pressure has turned the Peach State into an unexpected battleground. Also unexpected is the coronavirus which has raised interest in vote-by-mail nationwide, as an alternative to large crowds at the polls. The Georgia Secretary of State’s office has mailed 6.9 million absentee ballot request forms to registered voters in Georgia. The department website says the mailing was an effort to give as many Georgians as possible their right to vote
without leaving their homes. A recent New York Times and Sienna College survey found 18 percent of Georgians planned to submit mail-in ballots. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said 1.6 million Georgians have so far registered to vote by mail. “Georgia is a leader in election access,” Raffensperger said. “Notwithstanding the pandemic, voters in the Peach State can take advantage of no-excuse absentee ballot voting by mail or through a secure drop box; three weeks of early, in-person voting; or Election Day voting.” Early voting began in Georgia on Oct. 12. According to state data, within the first eight days, 675,825 mail-in ballots were received. That’s more than six times the number recorded during the same period in 2016.
A closer look at Fulton County shows about 211,000 absentee ballots were mailed out. Richard Barron, the county elections chief, said as of Oct. 21, approximately 96,000 absentee ballots have been returned and processed. Raffensperger’s office describes the
state’s voting system as “the gold-standard.” While many absentee ballots have been delivered and submitted, Fulton County election officials said they have heard from concerned voters who have yet to receive their ballot in the mail. “We do get calls,” Barron said. “I think part of the reason is the state set up a vendor for all of the counties to use and the ballots were being mailed from Arizona.” As of Oct. 16, those ballots are now being distributed from within Fulton County. Barron said it usually takes two weeks for a ballot to show up in your mailbox. However, some residents had not received their ballots after three weeks. “Most of the issues that we have are people just waiting to get the ballots in
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