News

Democratic Gerrymandering Creates Chaos

New Districts, Divided Counties, Precincts Leaves Voters Confused

August 20, 2002

(ATLANTA, GA) – The gerrymandered districts created by the Democrats last fall created unnecessary confusion for voters today as hundreds of thousands went to the polls to vote in the primary elections. Among the mishaps were ballots with the wrong districts and candidates listed, voters referred to the wrong polling locations, and voters living in the same precinct and even in the same residence being given different ballots.

The state has spent $53 million on new computerized voting machines, but if primary day was any indication, a combination of redistricting and inadequate preparation has left voters confused and frustrated in attempting to exercise one of the most basic rights of every American – the right to vote. Among the reports from grassroots citizens today attempting to vote were the following:

• In Troup County, a voter requesting a Republican ballot in Senate District 29 was given a ballot listing as the incumbent Senator Mitch Seabaugh, the state Senator in District 28.
• In Walker County, Fairyland Precinct (1851) had possession of a ballot box and voting machine intended for Mountain Precinct (1161). Upon delivery of the equipment, it was found that Mountain Precinct was using a cardboard box to collect the ballots.
• Also in Walker County, the Peavine Precinct (944) could not open their doors at 7:00 am as they too were not prepared with a ballot box. At Rossville Precinct (1812), the poll manager was seen unlocking a ballot box, looking at a ballot and then closing the box.
• In Hall County, the Friendship Precinct (1), where new computerized voting machines were being field tested, some ballots could not be produced. Some voters were given vouchers and told to come back later to cast their votes.
• It was reported in Cherokee County that a couple in one household received two different ballots.

Georgia Republican Party Chairman Ralph Reed commented, "We warned during redistricting that the dividing of 82 counties, hundreds of local communities, and neighborhoods would lead to confusion and disarray. The primary elections have demonstrated that those warnings were prophetic. Democratic gerrymandering and inadequate management by the Board of Elections and the Secretary of State has the potential to create even greater problems at the polls in November. This is just one more reason to elect Republican candidates at every level of government."

The Georgia Republican Party has assembled a team of election law attorneys and ballot security experts to prepare legal challenges if necessary to these and other voting irregularities.

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Georgia Republican Party
Elizabeth Dewberry