MILTON, Ga. — Milton’s upcoming local election has garnered attention from other jurisdictions, not just in other areas of north Metro Atlanta. Calls have been coming from out of state.
“We’re famous!” Milton City Clerk Tammy Lowit exclaimed.
Lowit said she’s heard from Idaho. She’s received comments out of awe, folks realizing the potential of self-run local elections.
Steve Krokoff, Milton city manager and elections superintendent, said he’s received calls from Kentucky, but they focused on Milton’s decision to hand-count paper ballots, wondering how the city will do it.
“We’re only counting 5,000-plus ballots,” Krokoff said. “So, you know, it’s not rocket science.”
To prepare for its November municipal election, Milton will soon form volunteer committees to address key tasks.
Until late May, only three city staff members — Krokoff, Lowit and Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis — had their hands on Milton’s first self-run local election, where the three City Council Post 2 seats will be on the ballot.
The small, but mighty, team has dedicated roughly 30 percent of their time on the clock to elections, pulling together standard operating procedures, all the while sifting through state code with regular help from the city’s attorney.
Recently, the city’s legal team confirmed Milton would not need a “voter review panel” to determine the intent of questionable ballot markings. The poll managers and assistant poll managers would make the determination.
There have also been runs to the store for election equipment, supplies piled in city offices. The team has recently received more items from Fulton County, like poll pads — the “only real technology” the city will be using in its election, and privacy screens.
“We actually have most things we need to run the election at this point…” Krokoff said….
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