Georgia County officials announced Wednesday that it would cut back on such sites following an announcement that it would add two early polling stations before the state’s crucial Senate elections.
Koch County, the third-largest county in the Peach State, has 11 preliminary polling stations for the Nov. 3 election.
For the election, which runs on January 5, they planned to keep five during the preliminary voting period. The move was condemned by various voting rights and civil rights groups, arguing that it would limit the number of black and Latino voters, NBC News reports.
In a press release Wednesday, county officials announced they were adjusting the number of early polling stations. For the first two weeks of preliminary voting, five sites will be operational. County Marietta and Smyrna will add two additional locations for the final week of early voting.
The reasons for the limited polling stations were staff questions, Election Director Janine Evler said, adding that the growing number of cases of COVID-19, Nov. 3. Including the reluctance to work during long hours and holidays during the election process.
“A lot of workers told us they’ve spent three weeks 14- or 15-hour days and they won’t do it again.” “We don’t have time to bring in and train as many employees as we had for November.”
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