By: J. Randolph Evans
Most voters think they elect the President and Vice President on General Election Day. This year, General Election Day is November 6, 2012. But, the truth be told, voters actually only elect Presidential Electors on General Election Day. Each state (and the District of Columbia) gets the total number of their Congressional delegation (both U.S. House and Senate) as Electors. For Georgia, this means 16 Electors … Read more...
By: J. Randolph Evans
In November 2008, two separate elections in Franklin County, Georgia for mayor in Royston and Franklin Springs ended in a tie. After a recount with an additional provisional ballot counted, just one vote decided both elections.
The impact of a few votes extends well beyond local races. While everyone remembers Florida’s votes in the 2000 Presidential Election, it was actually New Mexico that was closer. Only … Read more...
By: J. Randolph Evans
2012 will be an historic election – no matter what happens. Right now, all eyes remain fixed on the GOP nomination. In November, the world will focus on the Presidential election to see whether President Barack Obama can get reelected. But, on November 6, 2012, control of another branch of government – the Congress – will also be at play.
Currently, Republicans control the United States … Read more...
By: J. Randolph Evans
Ever wonder how judges get to be judges in Georgia?
Well, in Georgia, there are two ways to get to be a judge. First, get elected. Second, get appointed.
Getting elected is pretty straightforward. Georgia elects its judges. Anyone who meets the legal requirements for being a judge can qualify with the Georgia Secretary of State during the qualifying period and appear on the ballot. It … Read more...
By: J. Randolph Evans
Last year, Georgians elected justices on the Georgia Supreme Court andjudges on the Georgia Court of Appeals. Next year, Georgians willlikely elect three justices on the Georgia Supreme Court and more on theGeorgia Court of Appeals.
During the last two weeks, one of those courts gave Georgians a freshand important reminder of just how much Georgia courts can affect thelives of Georgians – especially some of … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
So, here are the two dates to mark on the calendar: November 23, 2011 (the day before Thanksgiving) and December 23, 2011 (two days before Christmas). What makes these dates special?
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 is the deadline for the so-called Congressional ‘super-committee’ (actually named the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction) to issue its recommendations for at least $1.5 trillion in federal deficit reductions over … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
Justice George Carley turned Georgia judicial elections upside down with a single decision this week. Here is what happened.
2012 was shaping up as a pivotal election for Georgia’s judiciary. On July 31, 2012 (Georgia’s Primary Election), Georgia voters would elect a majority of Georgia’s seven Supreme Court justices.
Placing four justices on the same ballot at the same time carried significant implications. It meant that … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
As the 2012 elections approach, voters are starting to pay attention.
Everyone agrees that cable news and the internet (including Twitter and
Facebook) have changed the world – especially the way voters get their
information. Both cable news and the internet give them what they want
when they want it. Yet, local media coverage remains an influential
part of the voter decision-making process.
Every Georgia officeholder, … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
What do Georgia judicial elections and reapportionment have in common?
Nothing, but maybe everything – especially in 2012.
In 2012, many statewide judges around Georgia, including a majority of
Justices on the Georgia Supreme Court, will be on the Primary Election
Ballot. Georgia judicial elections are supposed to be nonpartisan
affairs (although political parties and governors have been known to get
into a judicial race here … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
People are hurting across this country in a very real way. Many are
using their savings accounts or retirement accounts to just get by.
Others live from credit card payment to credit card payment to make ends
meet. For some, it has gotten so desperate, that they see no hope.
At an apartment complex in Canton, Georgia, a father killed his wife and
two year old … Read more...
By J. Randolph Evans
On Thursday, June 16, 2011, Congressman Anthony Weiner announced his resignation from the United States House. Headline writers, late night comedians and cable news anchors were greatly disappointed. Their ticket to double-meaning words and phrases and tawdry humor has come to an end. Oddly, he finally did something that both Democrats and Republicans agreed with.
… Read more...By J. Randolph Evans
2010 was a watershed election in Georgia politics. Republicans swept
every state constitutional office and took firm control of the Georgia
Senate and House.
2012 will be a watershed election in Georgia for a completely different
reason. While the Presidential election will certainly impose a healthy
level of partisanship in the November General Election, the 2012
nonpartisan judicial elections will also be big.