2023 Milton Voter Guide Page 7
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Paid for by Milton Families First Independent Committee
Milton early voting follows meticulous process Fulton County acts to remove Cheeley from CID position
By AMBER PERRY amber@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Each day of Milton’s advanced voting period at City Hall has a swift close-out, about 15 minutes, but it involves a meticulous verification process for several poll workers. Early voting for municipal elections across the state, including Milton, began Oct. 16. About half of Milton’s voters are expected to cast their ballots early. The city’s procedures during early voting follow the same steps demonstrated at the city’s mock election the week before, with poll clerks issuing voters a ballot by precinct after they check in on a poll pad. A week after the polls at City Hall opened, Milton received its first set of absentee ballots in the drop box near the City Council dais. Beside the drop box is a sign detailing who can possess or deliver a ballot on someone’s behalf — either a family member, a roommate or a caretaker for someone with disabilities, though this isn’t verified by a poll clerk. A bold warning says violation of this rule could result in a fine of up to $10,000, a term of imprisonment for 10 years, or both. The following day, Oct. 24, the first set of mail-in absentee ballots
North Fulton mayors tout ‘competition’ ► PAGE 4
By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia. com
AMBER PERRY/APPEN MEDIA
Judy Burds, Milton’s poll manager during advanced voting, checks the absentee ballot drop box Oct. 24. were delivered to the UPS store on Birmingham Road. The location’s ballot box is checked once a day by two poll officers, and the ballots are processed the same way as those dropped off at City Hall. As of that Tuesday, Milton had received about 130 applications for absentee ballots — an impressive number to Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis, who noted that Suwanee in Gwinnett County, a city that also runs its own election with
hand-counted paper ballots, received only a few applications. Suwanee has about half the number of Milton’s registered voters. Processing absentees Accounting for the absentee ballots called for Judy Burds, the poll manager during advanced voting, and another poll official to unlock the ballot box, check the chute for
See PROCESS, Page 24 CALENDAR
New tools promote civic engagement ► PAGE 6
Where to find fun in coming weeks ► PAGE 12
METRO ATLANTA — The Fulton County Commission is seeking to remove Bob Cheeley from the True North CHEELEY 400 board, a move officials said is supported by county code. The resolution also says the decision comes after Cheeley attempted to undermine Fulton County’s elections. True North 400, formerly the North Fulton Community Improvement District, is a selftaxing business district dedicated to community, transit and road improvements between Mansell and McGinnis Ferry roads. Its coverage area encompasses parts of Roswell, Milton and Alpharetta. North 400 is managed by a board with at least seven members who each represent a Metro Atlanta business. State Sen. Brandon Beach is executive director of the CID. Under Fulton County code, the Board of Commissioners can appoint two members to the CID board if more than 50 percent of land within the CID lies in unincorporated portions of the
See CHEELEY, Page 25