The Habersham County Board of Commissioners is following through on a request by State Rep. Terry Rogers to conduct an outside audit of the county’s state House districts.
Now Habersham first reported on Rogers’ request after the commission called for a new election in the House District 28 GOP primary. Commissioners admitted errors were made that could have impacted the outcome of that election. Rep.-elect Chris Erwin defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Gasaway by 67 votes. The county later admitted at least 70 voters were given the wrong ballots.
RELATED Habersham commissioners call for new election in House District 28
In a press release issued late Friday, commission chair Victor Anderson says commissioners asked Habersham County Elections Supervisor Laurel Ellison to “seek third party verification that the voters of Habersham County have been assigned to their proper legislative district prior to the upcoming November 6, 2018 General Election.”
Anderson says the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office of the Georgia General Assembly has agreed to assist in auditing the recent corrections.
“Voter assignment data from the Habersham County Elections Office and GIS Mapping System has been transmitted to the Reapportionment Office for verification,” says Anderson. “The results of this audit are expected prior to the release of any absentee ballots.”
“I appreciate the proactive approach the Habersham County Commission has taken with this request to the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment office,” says Rep. Rogers. “Chairman Anderson notified me this week of the request, but it wasn’t until today that they received final approval. I look forward to talking with the Reapportionment office next week to discuss the measures and protocols they will use to ensure accuracy before the November election.”
Ellison and Erwin are both defendants in a lawsuit filed by Gasaway contesting the May 22nd GOP primary results. Gasaway is asking the courts to vacate the election results and order a new election.
Senior Judge David Sweat is scheduled to hear arguments in the case Tuesday, Sept. 18.
If you have questions or concerns about House districting issues in Habersham County contact the Habersham County Board of Commissioner’s Office at 706-839-0200. You may also contact Commission Chairman Victor Anderson by email at [email protected].
