Chatham County board of registrars holds voter registration challenge hearing amid concerns over new software

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) — The Chatham County Board of Registrars held a voter registration challenge hearing Wednesday, drawing roughly a dozen community members who raised concerns about a new software system being used to flag voter registrations statewide.

Disputed lists at the center of the hearing

The hearing centered on two separate lists of voters with questionable registration addresses. A state elections investigator originally provided the board with a list of 224 flagged voters generated by a new software program called ELLY. After the county conducted its own review, that number was reduced to 101, and 93 voters were ultimately brought before the board with address issues.

Board of Registrars Chairman Colin McRae said the local review process demonstrates the system is working as intended.

“We take seriously our responsibility under code to maintain an accurate list,” McRae said.

Board member calls list partisan

Board member and political scientist Carry Smith opposed the challenges against all 93 voters. Smith said her opposition stems from the origins of the original 224-voter list, which she described as a product of a partisan program.

“This was a list that was generated from partisan program,” Smith said.

Smith said she would not support setting a precedent for using ELLY-generated data.

“I cannot single-handedly set a precedent to use any list that was generated from the ELLY system that shows partisanship because it then discriminates against individuals based on an opinion,” Smith said.

McRae pushed back, saying the county’s independent review — which reduced the list from 224 to 101 — shows there is no cause for concern with the shortened list.

“At the local level we’re the ones with boots on the ground doing the final due diligence that those registration addresses are correct,” McRae said.

Volunteers raise concerns about voter outreach

Multiple voter protection volunteers attended the hearing and said there are not enough methods of communication between the board and voters facing extenuating circumstances during election cycles.

Volunteer Alicia Shillington described one case she encountered while reaching out to voters on the list.

“One couple that I reached were going into Duke Medical Center to undergo chemotherapy for their wife, they had put their belongings in storage here and given up their apartment while they’re getting chemo. They were on the list, they weren’t here to get the list that their voter registration might be challenged,” Shillington said.

Volunteers said they are currently serving as a failsafe for voters and hope the county will take additional steps to assist voters in extenuating circumstances in the future.

McRae said the board gives voters ample opportunity to learn about registration issues and make corrections before Election Day. He also said the county does not plan to incorporate the ELLY software into its own system at this time.