Responses to the column about temporary, or provisional, ballots being tossed in Georgia and Indiana which raised concern about possibly disenfranchising some voters:

Mr. McKee,

As I wipe the tears from my eyes because of the 90 year old couple who were “disenfranchised,” I tried to imagine life without the hinderances of showing ID. Just yesterday I ran errands and had to show ID at least twice to local merchants. To suggest that this was a “poignant story that tugged at the hearts things” was so over the top that I almost lost my coffee through my nostrils.

How lucky you are if this is the saddest thing you have ever witnessed. Get over it and get with the program. Voter ID should be required by all regardless of age, race, creed, religion etc. And please no more tear jerker columns as I am out of tissues and I don’t want to have to show ID at the grocery store.

Joanna Fisher, Marietta, Ga.

Ms. Fisher,

Get some more tissues. And be careful with the coffee. – DM.

Mr. McKee,

Your MDJ column about the elderly Indiana couple who didn’t know that their temporary, or provisional, ballots were rejected is indeed sad. I don’t know what was in place in Indiana, but I am confident that the procedures in Georgia would have given them all the information they needed.

When a Cobb County voter casts a provisional ballot, that person is given written information explaining how to check to see if the vote was counted, and whether anything needs to be provided by the voter. If the reason for casting a provisional ballot is due to the voter not having ID at the poll, the notice will say how and when to provide ID to the Elections Office. If the voter doesn’t have any of the allowable forms of ID, the notice will tell the voter how to obtain a free Voter ID card at the Elections Office. The notice gives a phone number and an internet address to find out if the ballot was counted, and if it was rejected, the reason why. In addition, we send a letter by first-class mail to each provisional voter letting that person know if the ballot was counted or not, and why.

I write this to assure you, and Cobb County voters, that if a provisional ballot is necessary because of eligibility questions or because the voter didn’t have ID at the poll, we make every effort to tell the voter what they need to do, and then tell them whether the ballot was counted. If a provisional ballot must be rejected, the letter gives instructions to fix the problem so the voter can vote the regular way next time. Provisional voting is a useful tool to address Election Day issues and a safeguard so that no one is turned away at the poll.

Janine Eveler, Director, Cobb County Elections & Registration

Ms. Eveler,

Thank you for exemplifying: “Cobb County…Expect the Best.” – DM.

dmckee9613@aol.com