In its third meeting in February, the state election board referred “dozens of cases” of alleged election violations to prosecutors. Among those referred was the Gilmer County Board of Voter Registration.
“Gilmer County Board of Voter Registration (was referred) for a poll worker’s allegedly programming the incorrect ballot for a voter and canceling credit for voting without cause during the 2020 primary,” according to a press release from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office.
Gilmer County Chief Registrar Tammy Watkins said she and a poll worker are being referred for the incident which she calls a mistake.
An absentee ballot was issued to the voter in question, Watkins said. The voter then went to the office for early voting.
The mail-in ballot was canceled, and the voter was issued a ballot to vote in the office.
After casting a vote and scanning it into the machine, the voter alerted poll workers the wrong ballot had been issued, Watkins said. At this point, nothing could be done, the vote was cast.
Signs are posted in the office, and voters are asked to review their ballots to make sure they have the correct ballots.
In a mix-up, the poll worker then canceled the voting credit with the state, but the vote was still counted, she said.
“The voter did get to vote,” Watkins said. “We made two mistakes, but the voter still got credit for voting.”
The poll worker was reassigned to helping voters and was moved off the machines following the error.
“This was a seasoned worker, but nothing was normal this season,” Watkins said. “We are admitting that we made a mistake.”
Because it was an error, she was surprised when the case was referred to the Georgia Attorney General.
“I don’t know what the next step is going to be,” Watkins said.
Her understanding is she could receive a written warning or possibly be fined.