TALE of the TAPE
Here’s another reason why Local Elections are the most exciting elections of all:
In Georgia they post the Voting Results on the doors of every Polling Place — so you can drive around your town and see who won!
In Georgia they post the Voting Results on the doors of every Polling Place — so you can drive around your town and see who won!
SOUTH FULTON • 2023 ELECTIONS
2023 CITY COUNCIL MIDTERM ELECTIONS
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Watch October 19 Delta Sigma Theta Candidates Debate at Zion Hill Baptist Church (video begins at 14:00 mins)
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Watch One-on-One Conversations with each of the 2023 City Council Candidates
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Tuesday, September 19 — Here in South Fulton, we have an election every year in November. We vote for State & Federal representatives during even years and City Council during odd years. The first Tuesday in November is Regular Election Day. In Georgia, there are 3 weeks of early voting before each regular election, including Saturday & Sunday voting every weekend EXCEPT the weekend before Election Day Tuesday.
left to right: Councilpersons Rowell (District 1), Willis (District 3), Reeves (District 5) and Pritchett (District 7) are up for re-election.
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Unlike Atlanta, which elects all its City Councilmembers the same year citizens elect their Mayor, the City of South Fulton holds Midterm Elections halfway through the Mayor's term.
This year, half the South Fulton City Council is up for election. EARLY VOTING BEGINS MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, AND RUNS THROUGH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023. |
Only residents in South Fulton Council Districts 1, 3, 5 and 7 get to participate in this year's elections. Click on Zoomable Maps of each Voting District below to see where your neighborhood sits. Click on each candidates' picture to learn more about them.
South Fulton Council District 1
Cascades, Loch Lomond, Fulton Industrial Blvd, Sandtown
Incumbent Catherine Rowell is up for re-election in November 2023 for South Fulton District 1, which includes the Cascades, Loch Lomond, Fulton Industrial Boulevard (FIB) and Sandtown. Dr. Rowell has not committed to finish her term if re-elected, and is expected to announce a campaign in 2024 to challenge current Mayor khalid. Rowell has two challengers: education advocate and mother of 5, Angel Gaines-Dingle and longtime Community Advocate, Pamela Harris.
South Fulton Council District 3
Welcome All, Red Oak, Roosevelt Hwy
One of South Fulton's most outspoken Councilmembers, Incumbent Helen Z. Willis represents City of South Fulton Council District 3, which includes Welcome All, Red Oak, Roosevelt Highway and is expected to run for Mayor in 2025.
She has been a vocal supporter of South Fulton Police and led the initiative to institute South Fulton's new citywide trash service; as well as legislation to defund the South Fulton's Juneteenth Celebration and lawsuits to limit Public Comments and stop the Mayor from recording City Council Executive Sessions.
She has been a vocal supporter of South Fulton Police and led the initiative to institute South Fulton's new citywide trash service; as well as legislation to defund the South Fulton's Juneteenth Celebration and lawsuits to limit Public Comments and stop the Mayor from recording City Council Executive Sessions.
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Watch District 3 Candidates Debate
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Her challengers include former South Fulton Mayor candidate Benny Crane; and David Lee Williams, a Cedar Grove community advocate who has recently drawn into District 3 from City Council District 4. Community advocate Luetrell Langston filed a Declaration of Intent to challenge Willis but was drawn out of the district by City Council during 2022 Redistricting.
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South Fulton Council District 5
north Old National, Flat Shoals, Old Bill Cook, Buffington Road
Incumbent Corey A. Reeves (top right) is up for re-election in November 2023 for South Fulton District 5, which includes Flat Shoals, Feldwood, Old Bill Cook and Buffington Road. His two challengers are: Community advocate and sister of Real Housewives star Phaedra Parks, Keosha Bell; and father, coach and longtime Community Organizer, Kalvin Bennett.
Watch District 5 Candidates Debate (video starts at 11:16)
South Fulton Council District 7
Jonesboro Rd/Hwy 138, Oakley Industrial, Fife
Incumbent Linda B. Pritchett (top right) is up for re-election in November 2023 for South Fulton District 7, which includes Jonesboro Rd/Hwy 138, Oakley Industrial, Fife. She is being challenged by longtime community advocate and former Fulton County Planning & Zoning Commissioner, Alvin Reynolds.
Alvin Reynolds appears for Districts 3 & 7 Candidates Debate
This Voter Guide below breaks down all the things City of South Fulton Residents can vote for this year. Click on each candidate's picture to learn more about them. Click on Zoomable Maps of each Voting District to see where your neighborhood sits. Videos of candidates' debates will be posted when available. Debates hosted by South Fulton organizations are featured.
Click Picture to Print South Fulton Early Voting Locations & Times
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You do not have to wait until Tuesday, November 7 to go vote. You can vote NOW, Monday-Sunday for the next several weeks at any one of Fulton County's 14 early voting locations, including seven Early Voting Locations in South Fulton.
At Georgia's My Voter Page, after entering your First Initial, Last Name, County and Date of Birth, you can find your Tuesday, November 7 Election Day Voting Location and scroll down to View a Sample Ballot on the right to discover who you can vote for. |
Restoration of Rights to Vote & Run for Office
Desmond Meade and his Florida Rights Restoration Coalition have led the fight to restore Voting Rights for former Felons in Florida and led them to become a major voting block.
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Anyone who meets the qualifications can run for office — even convicted felons, IF they have completed their sentence five years prior to election (August 25, 2018) and had their rights restored.
Click the links below to learn more about what former felons need to do to run for office in Georgia and nationwide. |
If you have difficulty voting or feel your right to vote is being violated, contact the Georgia Voter Protection Hotline at (888) 730-5816
A team of lawyers is waiting to help you.
A team of lawyers is waiting to help you.
How to Check Your Registration
& Preview Your Ballot Before You Go Vote
Mayor khalid explains how to use the Georgia Secretary of State's My Voter Page to check your Voter Registration, confirm which voting districts you live in and even preview your ballot before you go vote.
"Off Paper?"
You Can Vote!
Your P.O. may not have told you, but if you are convicted of a felony in Georgia, you can re-register to vote as soon as you have paid your restitution & finished your parole. In Georgia, you do not need special permission from a judge or anyone else to re-register to vote.
If you have a loved one in County or City Jail who is awaiting trial but has not yet been found guilty of a crime — s/he can also vote! You can request an Absentee Ballot for them to vote by mail.
Don't let anyone use your record to deny your voting rights! Read the yellow section of this email below to learn how to Check Your Voter Registration, Preview Your Ballot before Election Day, and even Vote by Mail.
If you have a loved one in County or City Jail who is awaiting trial but has not yet been found guilty of a crime — s/he can also vote! You can request an Absentee Ballot for them to vote by mail.
Don't let anyone use your record to deny your voting rights! Read the yellow section of this email below to learn how to Check Your Voter Registration, Preview Your Ballot before Election Day, and even Vote by Mail.
If you have difficulty voting or feel your right to vote is being violated, contact the Georgia Voter Protection Hotline at:
(888) 730-5816
A team of lawyers is waiting to help you.
(888) 730-5816
A team of lawyers is waiting to help you.
How to Vote In-Person Georgia's New Voting Machines
Click on the video above to see a step-by-step demonstration of Georgia's new Voting Machines with Councilman khalid & the Fulton County Board of Elections.
Become a
PAID Elections Worker
The Fulton County Elections Office is seeking highly motivated dependable individuals to work on the May 24, 2022 Primary, June 21 Primary Runoff and November 8 General Election.
• Be at least 16 years of age.
• Be willing to work from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Election Days, or until 9:30 p.m. in the City of Atlanta
• Read and write English
• Have reliable transportation
• Be willing to work from 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Election Days, or until 9:30 p.m. in the City of Atlanta
• Read and write English
• Have reliable transportation
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Partisan vs. Non-Partisan
Primary, General & Runoff Elections
The word Partisan basically means:
Democrat or Republican. There are other political parties in America (see the blue box below for more information), but these are the main two.
Partisan elections (or races) are those where candidates identify themselves as Republican, Democrat or a member of some other political party. Most elections in the United States are partisan.
Democrat or Republican. There are other political parties in America (see the blue box below for more information), but these are the main two.
Partisan elections (or races) are those where candidates identify themselves as Republican, Democrat or a member of some other political party. Most elections in the United States are partisan.
Non-Partisan elections are those where candidates are not required to claim a political party. In Georgia, elections for City Council, School Board or Judges are often non-partisan.
The first Tuesday in November is National Election Day. Here in South Fulton, we have an election every year on that Tuesday. During even years we elect State and Federal (national) leaders, like the President, Governor, State Representatives and Congresspeople. We also elect our County Commissioners during even years. During odd years, City of South Fulton residents elect the Mayor and Councilpeople. These November Elections are called General Elections.
In the General Election, most positions will have only two names for voters to consider — one Democrat and one Republican.
Primary Elections are held in the Spring of an election year, usually around April or May, to decide the one Democrat and Republican who will go head-to-head against each other in November. To use a sports analogy, the Spring Primaries are the Playoff Elections while the November General Elections are the Finals.
Georgia is a closed-primary state. This means when voters go vote in the Spring (Tuesday, May 24 this year), they must choose either a Democrat or Republican ballot. Democratic Primary Election ballots list the names of all the Democrats running for a particular offices. Republican ballots list the names of all the Republicans running for that same ballot. Those who choose a Democrat ballot will not see Republican choices and vice versa.
Those who do not identify with either political party may select a Non-Partisan ballot. However, in doing so, they will not see candidates for any partisan races. Candidates for non-partisan races (like School Board or Judges) will appear on ALL ballots.
In many states like Georgia, candidates who do not win 50 Precent Plus One of the total vote in their election must compete in a Runoff Election to be declared the winner. In races with three or more people, it is highly unlikely for a single candidate to get over 50 percent of the vote in the first election. A Runoff Election will be required. After Democrats Raphael Warnock & Jon Ossoff won elections to become Georgia's first Black & Jewish U.S. Senators since Reconstruction, Georgia's Republican-controlled State Legislature changed Election Laws to require Runoffs to be held 30 days immediately after the first Election.
Runoff elections (also referred to simply as Runoffs) most often occur in a Partisan Primaries, where three or more DemocRats or three or more Republicans are competing for the same seat. These are called Primary Runoff Elections. The Election happening this August is a Primary Runoff Elections. However, runoffs can also occur in non-partisan elections like City Council when three or more individuals run for a single seat.
The first Tuesday in November is National Election Day. Here in South Fulton, we have an election every year on that Tuesday. During even years we elect State and Federal (national) leaders, like the President, Governor, State Representatives and Congresspeople. We also elect our County Commissioners during even years. During odd years, City of South Fulton residents elect the Mayor and Councilpeople. These November Elections are called General Elections.
In the General Election, most positions will have only two names for voters to consider — one Democrat and one Republican.
Primary Elections are held in the Spring of an election year, usually around April or May, to decide the one Democrat and Republican who will go head-to-head against each other in November. To use a sports analogy, the Spring Primaries are the Playoff Elections while the November General Elections are the Finals.
Georgia is a closed-primary state. This means when voters go vote in the Spring (Tuesday, May 24 this year), they must choose either a Democrat or Republican ballot. Democratic Primary Election ballots list the names of all the Democrats running for a particular offices. Republican ballots list the names of all the Republicans running for that same ballot. Those who choose a Democrat ballot will not see Republican choices and vice versa.
Those who do not identify with either political party may select a Non-Partisan ballot. However, in doing so, they will not see candidates for any partisan races. Candidates for non-partisan races (like School Board or Judges) will appear on ALL ballots.
In many states like Georgia, candidates who do not win 50 Precent Plus One of the total vote in their election must compete in a Runoff Election to be declared the winner. In races with three or more people, it is highly unlikely for a single candidate to get over 50 percent of the vote in the first election. A Runoff Election will be required. After Democrats Raphael Warnock & Jon Ossoff won elections to become Georgia's first Black & Jewish U.S. Senators since Reconstruction, Georgia's Republican-controlled State Legislature changed Election Laws to require Runoffs to be held 30 days immediately after the first Election.
Runoff elections (also referred to simply as Runoffs) most often occur in a Partisan Primaries, where three or more DemocRats or three or more Republicans are competing for the same seat. These are called Primary Runoff Elections. The Election happening this August is a Primary Runoff Elections. However, runoffs can also occur in non-partisan elections like City Council when three or more individuals run for a single seat.
RACIST HISTORY of RUNOFF ELECTIONS
In 1962, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional Georgia's County Unit System — designed to weight rural, white votes more heavily — state legislator Denmark Groover proposed the Runoff System to give white candidates an advantage in elections with multiple candidates.
Watch the PBS News Hour story above or Listen to NPR: On Point's history of Georgia's Runoffs at the link below.
Watch the PBS News Hour story above or Listen to NPR: On Point's history of Georgia's Runoffs at the link below.
All the possible days for elections in Georgia a pre-selected each year by the State Legislature. The Board of Elections for each county or city then selects from this list, the dates for any Primary, Runoff or Special Elections needed that year.
Most people who vote in South Fulton County and the City of South identify as Democrats and usually vote for Democratic candidates. Because of this, those who identify as Republicans and request Republican Primary ballots will often find very few candidates running for office in South Fulton. Republican ballots, even in Primaries, may have only one person running unopposed for elected office — or no person running at all for some offices.
The key thing for voters to remember is that during a Primary Election, those who request a Democrat or Republican will see their party's candidates for all the partisan races on the ballot, plus all the candidates for non-partisan races. However, those choosing a non-partisan ballot will only see non-parisan races.
Most people who vote in South Fulton County and the City of South identify as Democrats and usually vote for Democratic candidates. Because of this, those who identify as Republicans and request Republican Primary ballots will often find very few candidates running for office in South Fulton. Republican ballots, even in Primaries, may have only one person running unopposed for elected office — or no person running at all for some offices.
The key thing for voters to remember is that during a Primary Election, those who request a Democrat or Republican will see their party's candidates for all the partisan races on the ballot, plus all the candidates for non-partisan races. However, those choosing a non-partisan ballot will only see non-parisan races.
Why Don't Americans Have More Choices than
Democrats & Republicans?
While there are many, smaller political parties in America, including Working Families Party (of which South Fulton Mayor khalid is a member), the Green Party and the Libertarian Party. However, the only two parties that appear on ballots in every state in the country are Democrats and Republicans. This is not how America's Founding Fathers intended for things to be. They actually warned against a two-party system of government. However, until enough people begin regularly voting for third-party candidates, this how things are.
The video above from ABC news' America 101 system explains the origins of America's two-party system, and what it would take to change things.
A longer video that offers a complete history of America's political parties can be found at this link.
The video above from ABC news' America 101 system explains the origins of America's two-party system, and what it would take to change things.
A longer video that offers a complete history of America's political parties can be found at this link.
Who are the Libertarians
and What Do They Believe?
There are several races on the ballot in which a third party, Libertarian candidate is running. But who are they?
One minute video offers quick introduction to the Libertarian Party
There are dozens of political parties besides Democrats and Republicans, but only a few of them have grown large enough to appear on ballots in multiple states. Among those that have are the Working Families Party, The Green Party and the Libertarian Party. The largest and most well-funded of these alternative parties is the Libertarian Party. Libertarians candidates can usually be found on every Georgia Ballot.
Libertarians believe the minimum amount of government involvement results in the maximum amount of freedom. Their liberal social views (they believe marijuana should be legal because the government should not be regulating social values) attract younger voters. Their conservative economic views (they do not believe in welfare, food stamps or unemployment) attract wealthier voters. This has made the Libertarian Party a favorite of millionaires, a major source of funding for the Libertarian movement.
The Libertarian call to "get the government out of your life" can be very attractive, until you realize that your tax dollars support many things the average American could not pay for alone — such as streetlights, trash service, public schools and hospitals.
The Libertarian call to "get the government out of your life" can be very attractive, until you realize that your tax dollars support many things the average American could not pay for alone — such as streetlights, trash service, public schools and hospitals.
The Electoral College: How Presidents Are Really Elected
A lesser-known fact about American politics is that, at the national level, our country is not a Democracy (which directly elects our leaders), but a Republic (which elects representatives who elect our leaders).
When you go to vote for President & Vice President, you are actually going to vote for a College of Electors. This Electoral College is the group of people who selects the President.
The number of "Electors" each state gets is based on a mathematical formula explained in the video above. It is important to note that the number of electors each state get is recalculated every ten years using population data collected by the U.S. Census — which is yet another reason taking the Census is so important! (Georgia's share of Electors has been steadily increasing as more Americans move to the South.)
The Electoral College was created by America's "Founding Fathers" to basically ensure that big states with big cities would not have more influence in Presidential Elections than smaller, more rural areas. There has been much debate about abolishing the Electoral College in recent years, especially as it has become clear that most African Americans and other people of color live in cities and states whose voting power is mathematically diluted. Watch the video below to learn more about this debate.
The number of "Electors" each state gets is based on a mathematical formula explained in the video above. It is important to note that the number of electors each state get is recalculated every ten years using population data collected by the U.S. Census — which is yet another reason taking the Census is so important! (Georgia's share of Electors has been steadily increasing as more Americans move to the South.)
The Electoral College was created by America's "Founding Fathers" to basically ensure that big states with big cities would not have more influence in Presidential Elections than smaller, more rural areas. There has been much debate about abolishing the Electoral College in recent years, especially as it has become clear that most African Americans and other people of color live in cities and states whose voting power is mathematically diluted. Watch the video below to learn more about this debate.
PBS' Myles Bess explains America's Electoral College and its problems.
What Is Socialism?
What is Democratic Socialism?
Simply put, Democratic Socialism is the belief that people are more important than profits; that a human being's value should not be measured by how much money they can make for themselves or their employers.
Today, 1 percent of the world's population control 50 percent of the world's wealth & resources. Democratic Socialists seek to enact laws that redistribute wealth and political power to working class people.
Simply put, Democratic Socialism is the belief that people are more important than profits; that a human being's value should not be measured by how much money they can make for themselves or their employers.
Today, 1 percent of the world's population control 50 percent of the world's wealth & resources. Democratic Socialists seek to enact laws that redistribute wealth and political power to working class people.
TALE of the TAPE
Here’s another reason why Local Elections are the most exciting elections of all:
In Georgia they post the Voting Results on the doors of every Polling Place — so you can drive around your town and see who won!
In Georgia they post the Voting Results on the doors of every Polling Place — so you can drive around your town and see who won!
Interested in Running for Local Elected Office?
Here is How to Get Started.
South Fulton City Council is a part-time position. Most South Fulton City Councilmembers have full-time jobs. In addition to a part-time salary of $27,000 per year, each South Fulton City Councilmember receives free physical, vision, dental and mental health insurance; a 10 percent salary match in employee retirement; and a budget of over $150,000 per year for local events & initiatives, full-time administrative staff, interns, travel & training.
Local electeds like City Council, County Commission and School Board make more decisions that impact our daily lives than the President or Congresspeople we see on national news — from what your children art taught (or not taught) in school to what protocols local police must follow. Running for local office is not as expensive or difficult as you may think. South Fulton Mayor khalid breaks down the costs, considerations and first steps to getting your name on the ballot. Click the matching link below to learn more.
Local electeds like City Council, County Commission and School Board make more decisions that impact our daily lives than the President or Congresspeople we see on national news — from what your children art taught (or not taught) in school to what protocols local police must follow. Running for local office is not as expensive or difficult as you may think. South Fulton Mayor khalid breaks down the costs, considerations and first steps to getting your name on the ballot. Click the matching link below to learn more.