Raffensperger honors Tattnall County elections office, addresses midterm security

TATTNALL COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger recognized the Tattnall County elections office for what he called superior efforts in election administration.

Barbie Mock, the Tattnall County elections administrator, accepted the EAGLE award on behalf of her department. EAGLE stands for Georgia Election Administration Golden Leader in Excellence.

Mock has led the Tattnall County elections office since 2022.

“I’m elated that we- my whole team and I, we’ve built a great team. We all work cohesively and well together, transparently, so that everyone has the right to vote,” Mock said.

Raffensperger pointed to wait times as evidence of the office’s performance.

“Our average wait time is typically under five minutes, statewide. That just goes to the professionalism and the teamwork that you have at your county, so we want to salute Tattnall County and we want to salute Barbie for all the work she does with her team,” Raffensperger said.

Raffensperger also honored the Pierce County elections office and their supervisor before stopping in Tattnall County.

Midterm election weeks away

Raffensperger addressed reporters during the stop, about a month before Georgia’s midterm election.

“Our elections are free, they’re fair, and they’re fast,” Raffensperger said.

Raffensperger said voters are confident in Georgia poll workers.

“UGA did a poll. after the 2024 election, 98, 99% of all Georgians, they trust our poll workers. They trust our election officials. And when you have that kind of trust, it calms people down,” Raffensperger said.

That trust is being tested on two fronts: allegations of past interference, and questions about federal agents at polling places.

The Trump administration has publicly accused Georgia of election interference in the 2020 election. Earlier this year, the FBI raided a Fulton County elections office.

Security and federal agents at polling places

Raffensperger said safety at the polls is a top priority.

“We’re also working with the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, and they’re part of my task force to make sure everything is safe,” Raffensperger said.

The Department of Homeland Security has raised the possibility that its agents may go to the polls to address public safety threats, or active warrants. The department says it doesn’t have plans to deploy ICE at the polls.

Nine organizations representing immigrants and workers have filed a federal lawsuit trying to ban ICE from polling places anyway.

Raffensperger said data shows non-citizens aren’t voting in Georgia elections.

“It’s going to be safe and secure here in Georgia, because we know that only American citizens are showing up to vote,” Raffensperger said.

The midterm election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3.