Ballots, But Not Votes

Augusta, GA—Hundreds of Augusta voters tried to make their voices heard by exercising their rights to vote, but their ballots are still not in any candidate’s column.

The day after the election, Lee Solt was trying to get his vote to count, even though he was at the polls, Election Day.

“They gave me the form and I filled it out I went to the table where they have the computer and the computer told me I wasn’t on the list so they told me to go over to the other table to get another form to fill out to vote,” said Solt.

Solt’s vote is one of about 350 provisional ballots cast in yesterday’s election.

They’re back up votes when there is a problem with a voter’s eligibility.

“This by far is the most we’ve ever cast, you always have more provisional’s cast in a presidential election,“ said Election Director Lynn Bailey.

“The three most common reasons for voting a provisional ballot, not being on the registration list, not having a photo ID, or showing up at the wrong polling place.

Augusta elections workers are now investigating every one of the provisional ballots, and have two days to get the job done.

The workers will then make recommendations to the Elections Board.

“The Board of Elections will receive reports from the staff and they’ll decide individually each one of those votes and decided if they should be accepted or rejected,” said Bailey.

But Lee Solt is not going to be helping any candidate this year he wasn’t registered, but he is now, so next election he’ll get his say.