MACON, Ga. — Nearly 800 Bibb County voters can still head to the polls in the May primary after the county board of elections dismissed their registration challenges.
Bibb County Republican Party Chairman David Sumrall questioned their residency, arguing it was illegal for them to vote under their listed addresses. In a hearing Monday afternoon, Sumrall told the board he wanted to help the county run a fair election.
"My purpose is simply to help us move toward the cleanest voter roll possible, which lists only lawful voters," he said. "Every unlawful vote dilutes the vote of a lawful voter."
Sumrall challenged three sets of voters, including 159 people who listed their address as Mercer University's student center. That's where mail goes for students and some staff. Board members, like Chairwoman Karen Evans-Daniel, explained county tax records show all Mercer buildings have the same address.
Sumrall also challenged 48 people who registered to P.O. boxes. Again, board members pointed out exceptions, like Georgia's VoteSafe program. Evans-Daniel says that allows victims of domestic violence to register to a P.O. box so their abuser can't find them.
He also claimed 584 people were still on the rolls in Bibb County after moving out-of-state. Evans-Daniel clarified 551 of them have "inactive" voter statuses, meaning they'll automatically fall off the list within the next two federal election cycles. She also expressed doubt at Sumrall's proof, telling him it's possible he didn't have definitive information.
"Just because my name is Sarah Jackson, and I was born in '49 - that's the only information that you would have - does not mean that Sarah Jackson born in '49 does not exist in another state," she said.
It wasn't Sumrall's evidence that prompted the board to vote down the challenges. It was the Federal Voting Rights Act that prohibits most changes to voter rolls before a federal election. There are federal races on the May 21 primary ballot.
The board voted unanimously to dismiss the challenges against the Mercer addresses and alleged out-of-state voters.
They voted 3 to 2 to dismiss the P.O. box challenge after some debate.
Sumrall says he understands why the board rejected his challenges, but plans to question more voters in the future.