Latest news with #TravisDoss
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Supreme Court of Georgia overturned four rules from the State Election Board
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The Supreme Court of Georgia overturned four rules from the State Election Board. Those measures were approved just before the presidential elections last year. So, what does this mean for local voting? When the SEB passed seven new election rules, they faced a legal challenge. The Fulton County Superior Court ruled them unlawful. The Supreme Court has now ruled that four of the seven rules are invalid. 'The State Elections Board had passed some rules. There was a lawsuit. So, they adjoined the rules, and they appealed it, and the Supreme Court upheld that decision,' said Travis Doss, Executive Director for the Richmond County Board of Elections. The rules that are now invalid are the reasonable inquiry rule, the hand count rule, the drop box ID rule, and the examination rule. The only rule that was upheld out of the seven is video surveillance of absentee drop boxes outside of voting hours. The other two rules, regarding poll watchers and daily reporting, have been sent back to the trial court. 'Now, there were two rules that the Supreme Court said were fine. One has to do with video surveillance of droboxes, and another one had to do with posting results to the website. We've been posting results to the website already,' said Doss. Richmond County Board of Elections Director Travis Doss says this will not change anything for voters because the rules were never implemented. 'I'm currently president of the association of voter registration and election officials. And we had kind of fought against these rules. Only because they were too close to the election. So, the court did adjoin them so they couldn't be used,' said Doss. Doss says he is happy to finally have closure. 'The good thing about the decision for the Supreme Court. It kind of gives a definitive answer. We were sort of in limbo after the rules were passed in November after there was the lawsuit,' said Doss. The primary for the Public Service Commission is currently underway in Richmond County, with early voting taking place until this Friday and Election Day on Tuesday, June 17th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Voting begins for June 17 special election that includes Columbia County candidate
Election officials in Richmond County will issue daily updates on advance vote totals in the days leading to the June 17 special election involving a Columbia County candidate. Advance voting and the mailing of absentee ballots for the special primary election for the Public Service Commission have started, according to Travis Doss, executive director of the county's Board of Elections. Advance voting will continue through June 13. By 10 a.m. each day, the webpage at is expected to include updated vote totals at the link marked Absentee and Advance Daily Report. Vote: Special election to decide who helps set the prices on your power and gas bills The election pits incumbent District 2 PSC Commissioner Tim Echols against Republican challenger and Harlem mechanical contractor Lee Muns. The PSC rules on issues involving natural gas and electric utilities. Notably, it helps set and regulate the rates Georgians pay for those utilities. Muns' professional background includes performing contract work at nuclear facilities such as Burke County's Plant Vogtle, which falls under the PSC's purview. Echols, currently the PSC's vice-chairman, has served on the commission since 2010. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta-area voting begins in June 17 election for state utility post
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Richmond County Board of Elections discussing advance voting policies at their monthly meeting
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Richmond County Board of Elections members having their monthly meeting to discuss the advance voting policy used in 2024 and see if it should be changed or kept the same for 2025 and 2026. In 2023, the Board of Elections members changed their advance voting policy. Before the 2024 elections, they had two weeks of advance voting at the main office, and on the third week, the satellite sites would be open. However, for the 2024 election, it was changed to all four locations that were open for all three weeks. 'As we prepare for 2025, we have this special primary that we had not planned for, and so the board wanted to analyze some of the policy to see where they wanted to make any changes to it. Or basically keep it as it is, and so they voted to keep the current policy,' said Travis Doss, Executive Director of Richmond County Board of Elections. All locations will be open Monday through Friday and two Saturdays. There will be one Sunday at the Augusta Municipal Building. 'The main thing is that we just want to be consistent. The board wants to make sure that we give voters every opportunity to come out and vote. Whether it's by absentee, or advanced, or election day,' said Doss. The board is watching what happens with the SAVE Act and Georgia Senate Bill 214, known as the Paper Ballot Bill, which could cause future changes in voting. Everything remains the same except for two new voting precincts for Election Day. 'These are election day changes. So, for the June primary. The people who used to vote at Asbury will now be voting at the Charles Evans Community Center. And for the people who would vote at the Augusta Deliverance, they will now be voting at Mann-Mize,' said Doss. They will continue sending out information on the voting precinct changes so those affected know. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
