ATLANTA – State Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following statement regarding Speaker David Ralston’s (R-Blue Ridge) call for the House Governmental Affairs Committee to investigate irregularities in the primary election in Georgia:
“Speaker Ralston has asked the House Governmental Affairs Committee to look into the voting problems our constituents faced yesterday. Local officials, precinct captains and poll workers did their very best under extreme circumstances, which included the use of new voting machines, COVID-19 protocols and a record number of absentee ballots, to name a few.
“When problems occur on Election Day, it can be very painful for all involved. And, voters are not interested in who or what is at fault; the voters want and deserve solutions.
“The bottom line is that people experienced challenges exercising their right to vote. Our committee will work together to learn about voters’ concerns and how we can help. Voting should be simple and fair. We must do better.”
On Tuesday, June 9, Speaker Ralston directed the House Governmental Affairs Committee to investigate the state’s primary elections process and recommend legislative and administrative changes to prevent future issues.
For more information on the House Governmental Affairs Committee, please click here.
Representative Shaw Blackmon represents the citizens of District 146, which includes portions of Houston County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2015 and currently serves as the Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, as well as the Economic Development & Tourism, Juvenile Justice, Insurance, Rules, Small Business Development, Special Rules and Ways & Means committees.
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