Northeast Georgians will have a chance on Thursday to share their views on the State Election Board. The Georgia House Blue Ribbon Study Committee on Election Procedures will visit Clarkesville on August 28. The meeting will take place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the North Georgia Technical College Industrial Technology Center.
District 10 Rep. Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia) is vice chair of the committee. He arranged the Clarkesville meeting to give citizens direct input.
“This committee has a clear and focused mission: to take a close look at how our state administers elections—both at the state and local levels—and ensure that our laws and procedures are secure, transparent, and effective,” Anderson said.
Thursday’s session will examine the State Election Board’s role, membership, and effectiveness. Board members will testify, and the public can comment.
“This is a very timely topic and will likely provide some spirited debate,” Anderson said.
Rep. Tim Fleming (R-Covington) chairs the committee. Other members are Rep. Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas), Rep. Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown), Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton), Speaker Pro Tem Rep. Jan Jones (R-Milton), and Rep. Saira Draper (D-Atlanta).
Focus on election security
Since 2020 and unproven claims of widespread voter fraud, Georgia Republicans have made election security a top priority. They have passed new laws limiting ballot drop boxes, requiring ID for absentee ballots, and banning food and water distribution to voters in line—a practice called “line relief.”
Anderson said he expects strong input from voters and officials on oversight rules and election law.
“This is a very timely topic and will likely provide some spirited debate,” he said.
Committee schedule
This will be the third of six statewide meetings. Previous sessions were in Atlanta and Rockmart. Future meetings are set for Savannah on September 18, Covington on October 2, and Americus on October 16.
All meetings are open to the public and livestreamed.
The committee will present its findings to House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) before the 2026 session.
“I fully expect our committee to take all the testimony from these meetings into account as we recommend forward-thinking, effective legislation,” Anderson told Now Habersham.
Burns said he looks forward to the recommendations to “ensure Georgia has the most secure election system in the nation ahead of the 2026 election cycle.”
WATCH PREVIOUS MEETINGS
