Election officials in Banks and Habersham counties are getting closer to finalizing their House District 28 voter lists. Monday was the deadline to reconcile their lists with objections raised by candidates in the upcoming April 9 special Republican primary.
A judge gave Chris Erwin and Dan Gasaway a chance to challenge voters they don’t think are eligible to vote in the race. Erwin did not object to any of the names submitted by the election boards in the district. Gasaway objected to 28 of them — 25 in Banks County and 3 in Habersham.
Banks County voters
Banks County election officials met Monday ahead of the court ordered end-of-the-day deadline. They removed four voters from their voting list because they’re deceased and another because she moved out of state.
In a letter to the candidates, Banks County Election Supervisor Andra Phagan says the board did not have sufficient evidence to remove nine other voters Gasaway challenged based on residency. Election officials will send letters and confirmation notices to those voters in an attempt to update their information and determine their eligibility.
The Banks County Board of Elections determined that the eleven remaining voters, including Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed, are eligible to cast provisional ballots on April 9.
Habersham County voters
The Habersham County Board of Elections reconciled its HD 28 voter list on Friday. Gasaway’s campaign agreed to dismiss one challenge after the board determined the voter is valid and eligible. Election officials will have to verify the addresses of the two others.
Charles Edward Akers, Jr. is one of them. A judge ruled that his wife, Carrie Akers, voted illegally in last year’s December 4 HD 28 primary redo. Testimony revealed she voted in Habersham, despite the fact that she and her husband moved to Banks County in June 2017.
Election records show Charles Akers still lists the couple’s former home in Mt. Airy as his residential address.
In a letter to the candidates, Habersham County Election Supervisor Laurel Ellison says, “Mr. Akers did not give an address change on any of his voter certificates for the May, July, or November 2018 Elections, and we have not received any address Change of Address Form from him, as of yet.”
Ellison says Akers and the other contested voter in Habersham will be allowed to cast provisional ballots.
Those ballots are only supposed to count once a voter’s eligibility is verified in accordance with state election laws.
Gasaway reacts
Gasaway says he’s not surprised that the election boards in Habersham and Banks agreed with “a majority of our objections.” He expects election officials will eventually remove more of the contested voters from their rolls.
“I think proper vetting will show that these voter’s votes should not be counted in the upcoming election,” Gasaway says. “They live in different counties than the counties that they are currently assigned by the election board. The provisional ballots will provide more time for the election board to study the facts. Voters must vote in the county where they live. Georgia law is very clear on this issue.”
House District 28 includes part of Habersham County and all of Banks and Stephens counties. Neither candidate challenged any of the voters on Stephens County’s voting list.
