Eli
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Eli
@elium2.com
1K followers 480 following 1.7K posts
Leftist political analyst focusing on Georgia & RI. Sometimes I talk about justice. | cishet, autistic, 27

📍Sandy Springs, GA

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I doubt either of these leads get erased.
December 3, 2025 at 12:49 AM
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This does not feel like a great sign for Dontaye. I voted over a week ago.
Text Wednesday 11:30 AM from me: “I voted for Dontaye on Sunday!” Reply received within one hour: “Thank you!” Text received from same number at 11:06 AM today: “Election Day is today! If you've already voted for Dontaye Carter, thank you. Polls are open until 7 PM, and we can win this with your help!”
December 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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Sometimes I wonder why they bother adjudicating
A ballot from City Council District 2 in Washington city, Georgia, in Wilkes County. The voter has lightly and sloppily placed check marks for both Republicans for Public Service Commission. Lighter still, but more clearly not stray marks in my opinion, the voter has selected Susan C. Branan for Council and Yes on FLOST, also by check mark. The instructions clearly indicate that this is not the correct way to mark a ballot. Record of how the ballot was tabulated. Ballot scanned on Tabulator 90, Batch 1, Ballot 2, at 18:14:34 on 11/04. Original tabulation: PSC District 2 vote for Tim Echols (R) PSC District 3 vote for Fitz Johnson (R) City Council blank contest FLOST blank contest Adjudicated at 7:32 p.m. on 11/04 by “emsadmin”. Adjudication results: PSC District 2: Tim Echols (Rep) (40% confidence) PSC District 3: Fitz Johnson (Rep) (29% confidence) City Council blank contest FLOST blank contest There is no confidence level given for the blank contest determinations.
November 28, 2025 at 4:29 AM
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I saw this headline and thought I must be hallucinating
“Labubu and KPop Demon Hunters Join Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” Headline from The New York Times
November 27, 2025 at 3:50 PM
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Since posting this, after attempting to load the webpage of Wilkinson County (not exactly a high-tech webpage, but it seems to be down currently) via the Internet Archive, which sent me to a redirect loop, suddenly Safari was using 67 GB and getting worse and I had to force quit it.
System message from my Mac: Force Quit Applications “Your system has run out of application memory. To avoid problems with your computer, quit any applications you are not using.” Visible in the screenshot are Acrobat, using 0.90 GB; Activity Monitor, 80 MB; AdBlock, 32 MB; Contacts, 46 MB; Excel, 1.15 GB, Preview, 39 MB; R, 6.85 GB; Reminders, 68 MB; and Safari, somehow using 66.78 GB. Safari is the only application marked as “not responding”.
November 27, 2025 at 2:09 AM
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Updated PSC D3 by city map!
The map features many more municipalities and counties now, primarily in North and West Georgia. Little progress has been made in South Georgia.
November 25, 2025 at 11:05 PM
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I have begun work on my PSC by city map. (This is the D3 race.)
A map of Georgia. This is a work in progress of the Public Service Commission District 3 race by municipality (unincorporated areas are aggregated by county). I have completed the following counties: Baldwin, Berrien, Bibb, Candler, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Cook, Echols, Evans, Fulton, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Muscogee, Quitman, Richmond, Stephens, and Webster. I also have the municipalities of Alto, Demorest, Mount Airy, Temple, Pearson, Port Wentworth, and Vidalia as well as three very small jurisdictions. Let me know in the replies if you want the topline results for any of them. My Bluesky handle, @elium2.com, is also in the image.
November 20, 2025 at 3:35 AM
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Incredible things happened in the Georgia PSC election. Josh McKoon's old district, now held by Randy Robertson, voted for Peter Hubbard.
SD 29 results for Public Service Commission District 3. The district voted for Peter Hubbard, the Democrat, by 4.5%. Fitz Johnson, the Republican, won Harris County by 6% (4,537 ballots cast); Meriwether County by 1.7% (3,153 ballots cast); and Troup County by 10% (9,103 ballots cast). Hubbard won the part of Muscogee County that is in the district by 32% (7,220 ballots cast). This part of Muscogee County is typically red.
November 19, 2025 at 2:56 AM
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Encountered this in the voter file I purchased from the state. (This is Stephens County.) This is definitely wrong. Combo 3 is Toccoa, and combo 1 is unincorporated.
Tabulation of Stephens County registered voters by municipality, district combo, and city council district. There are 153 voters in Avalon at-large, 243 in Martin at-large, 13,799 in Toccoa at-large, and 6,646 in Toccoa, but not assigned to Toccoa at-large. (I contend that there should be 6,646 in Toccoa at-large and 13,799 not in Toccoa at all.)
November 19, 2025 at 2:23 AM
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In Georgia, like most places, a recall requires gathering signatures from registered voters. But we also require specific grounds for the recall. It's a high standard. Recalls here are rare – and as far as I know, all recalls in the last 7 years that passed legal review were successful.
O.C.G.A. § 21-4-3, in relevant part, reads as follows. (7) “Grounds for recall” means: (A) That the official has, while holding public office, conducted himself or herself in a manner which relates to and adversely affects the administration of his or her office and adversely affects the rights and interests of the public; and (B) That the official: (i) Has committed an act or acts of malfeasance while in office; (ii) Has violated his or her oath of office; (iii) Has committed an act of misconduct in office; (iv) Is guilty of a failure to perform duties prescribed by law; or (v) Has willfully misused, converted, or misappropriated, without authority, public property or public funds entrusted to or associated with the elective office to which the official has been elected or appointed. [new paragraph] Discretionary performance of a lawful act or a prescribed duty shall not constitute a ground for recall of an elected public official; provided, however, that a judicial circuit district attorney’s failure to perform the duties provided for in Code Section 15-18-6 or a state court solicitor-general’s failure to perform the duties provided for in Code Section 15-18-66 shall constitute grounds for a recall of such elected official.
November 14, 2025 at 1:28 AM
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Cross-tabulation of the Woodstock mayoral race and the PSC D3 race. Incumbent mayor Michael Caldwell, a former Republican state representative, easily defeated former Indivisible chapter leader Martha Jean Schindler.
95% of Fitz Johnson voters selected incumbent mayor Michael Caldwell. Of Peter Hubbard voters, 59% selected challenger Martha Jean Schindler, 36% selected Caldwell, and 4% skipped the mayoral race entirely.
November 13, 2025 at 8:49 PM
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I was already inclined to go with the SoS's spelling of Vicky's last name, “Boyette”, rather than the spelling here, “Boyett”. And then I read the next line
Candidate list for the City of Screven submitted to the Georgia State Ethics Commission. The candidates are Jason Weaver for Mayor, Lee Stevenson for Council Seat 2, Vicky Boyett [sic] for Council Seat 2, and Booby Gray [sic] for Council Seat 4. This form spells Vicky's last name BOYETT, but the SoS records spell it BOYETTE. The Seat 4 candidate should be Bobby Gray.
November 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
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owned
Section header: Sectarian violence and minorities in Syria The Washington Post: “One of the concerns raised by people who don’t want to lift the sanctions is the violence still happening in your country. Under the regime [of former president Bashar al-Assad], there was an effort to pit various groups against each other, but some of those groups are still fighting. How would you respond to critics who say you haven’t done enough to lower that type of violence, and what is your plan to make sure attacks on minorities do not continue?” Ahmed al-Sharaa: “Syria just got out of a fierce war, and it was living under dictatorship and the harsh regime that controlled the country for 60 years. We are going through a transitional period right now, and in transition, there are situations, conditions and laws that are different from stable countries. For example, the Civil War in the United States — after it finished, were things stable after one year? Or did it take so long, so many years after the war? We are in the stage of rebuilding the state, and restoring and rebuilding the law. But I’m not saying that there are no problems in Syria. It’s not the end of the story.”
November 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
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Working on compiling referendum results/details from Tuesday in Georgia. This one jumped out at me – Georgia law doesn't require a referendum to allow package sales of beer and wine! (You have to hold a vote to do it on Sundays, but not to do it in general.)
Screenshot of a sample ballot. “Sale of Malt Beverages and Wine (Vote for One) Shall the governing authority of City of Ivey, Georgia be authorized to permit and regulate package sales by retailers of both malt beverages and wine?” The options “Yes” and “No” appear, in that order, beneath the question.
November 6, 2025 at 10:53 PM
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Please enjoy this high-quality photo I got with @kelseabondatl.bsky.social last night
November 6, 2025 at 3:06 AM
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This is a comically absurd interpretation of the policy at issue. Glad a judge overturned the expulsion. www.ajc.com/education/20...
[Cobb County] School District policy prohibits students from “intentionally” disrupting the school day. The district said that because G.D. intended to send the text messages that ended up disrupting the school day, he violated the policy. The judge said that interpretation “misconstrues the plain language” of the rule. “The Local Board’s decision that G.D. violated the School Disruption rule is unsupported by the record evidence because there is no evidence that G.D. intended to cause a disruption,” [Judge] Leonard wrote in the six-page ruling. —— I have highlighted the various appearances of “intentionally” and “intended” to emphasize the district’s absurd interpretation.
November 6, 2025 at 2:59 AM
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In Berkeley Lake, Ga., write-in candidate Kathy Sanders came in fourth place in a race where the top three candidates are elected. Two candidates who were on the ballot underperformed her.
Berkeley Lake The results of the November 4, 2025 General Election are as follows: Patrick Bussenius 181 votes Skipper Dahlstrom 282 votes Dick LoPresti 154 votes Bill Lyons 319 votes Jack W. “Chip” McDaniel 273 votes Write-in Candidate Kathy Sanders 219 votes
November 5, 2025 at 10:27 PM
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Full legal notice
Legal Notice Call for Special Election for State House, District 121 Notice is hereby given that a Special Election shall be held on December 9, 2025, in Clarke and Oconee Counties for Georgia House District 121 to fill a vacancy due to the resignation of Representative Marcus Wiedower. A Special Runoff Election, if needed, shall be held on January 6, 2026. Qualifying for the Georgia House District 121 Special Election will be held at the Office of Georgia Secretary of State’s Elections Division, 2 MLK Jr. Dr., Floyd West Tower Suite 802, Atlanta, GA 30334. The dates and hours of qualifying will be Thursday, November 6, 2025, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m., Friday, November 7, 2025, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m., and Monday, November 10, 2025, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 1:00 p.m. The qualifying fee shall be $400.00. Monday, November 10, 2025, is the last day to register to vote for all persons who are not registered to vote and who desire to vote in the Special Election. Advance in-person absentee voting will begin on Monday, November 17, 2025. Brad Raffensperger Secretary of State
November 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
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Another example
Result summary posted by Glynn County Board of Elections and Registration for PSC District 2: Tim Echols (R) 5,419 (51.6%) Alicia Johnson (D) 5,086 (48.4%) This summary is marked “unofficial and incomplete” but is semi-final and indicates all precincts are reporting. Result summary posted to Secretary of State website by Glynn County for PSC District 2: Tim Echols (R) 5,419 (51.6%) Alicia Johnson (D) 5,086 (48.4%) This summary is election night complete and is identical to the county's PDF summary. Results for Glynn County in the PSC District 2 race from Decision Desk HQ. Alicia Johnson (D) 7,668 (50.5%) Tim Echols (R) 7,509 (49.5%)
November 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
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James Shepherd, who was backed by local Democrats, has been elected Mayor of Newnan with 44% of the vote. Newnan does not have runoffs for Mayor.
Mayor of Newnan Danny Beck 2,196 Keith Brady (incumbent) 1,628 James Shepherd 3,018 Total 6,842
November 5, 2025 at 3:59 AM
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Master list of my ratings. I compiled this after the fact so if it looks different from the thread, let me know!
Final 2025 ratings State PSC D2: Tilt Democratic PSC D3: Tilt Democratic HD 106: Safe Democratic Atlanta Mayor: Safe Dickens Council President: If I had to bet, I would bet on Overstreet AL P1: Likely Bond D2: Lean Bond D4: Safe Dozier D12: Tossup Lewis/Flowers D3: no rating D7: no rating D9: no rating D11: no rating no BoE ratings Sandy Springs Mayor: Tossup Bauman/Paul D1: Likely Paulson D2: Uncontested Kelley D3: Tilt Mular D4: Roberts favored D5: Lean Ford D6: Lean Chinsky Other mayoral races South Fulton: Gumbs slight favorite Johns Creek: Pure Tossup Warner Robins: Lean Patrick Marietta: Lean Tumlin Tucker: Likely Lerner Cartersville: Safe Santini Chattahoochee Hills: Likely Lowe
November 4, 2025 at 10:08 PM
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Noticed this typo the other day and it's been bugging me ever since.
A blank notice of candidacy for a county or municipal filer. This is the document that local candidates in Georgia file to appear on the ballot for a nonpartisan election (or as an independent candidate). At one point, the candidate must affirm that “as of the general electon [sic] for this office, I will have been a legal resident of the State of Georgia for [blank] consecutive years”. I have highlighted the typo “electon”, which should say “election”.
November 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
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You have got to be kidding me
Public Notice that a general election in the City of Brooklet, Georgia was to be held on November 4, 2025 for Council Posts 3, 4, and 5; and a notice that the election was cancelled because all candidates were unopposed. Brooklet City Charter, § 2.12 (b): “(b) Elections shall be held in the year 2025 and thereafter every four years for the mayor and the councilmembers for Posts 1 and 2, such individuals to be elected for four-year terms of office. Elections shall be held in the year 2027 and thereafter every four years for councilmembers for Posts 3, 4, and 5, such individuals to be elected for four-year terms of office.”
October 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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Love too redistrict using metes and bounds
First page of the 2022 redistricting ordinance for the City of Pawtucket, R.I. (Ordinance Chapter 3254). District 3's west boundary is described as “North and South Bend St., Meadow St., Norton St., Pond St., Prospect St., to George R. Bennet [sic] Highway.” I have highlighted the portion “Prospect St. to George R. Bennet [sic] Highway.” OpenStreetMap view of Prospect St and George R. Bennett Highway in Pawtucket. A thick black line depicts the city boundary, which clearly cuts along Prospect St before any intersection of the two roads. George R. Bennett Highway actually terminates slightly before reaching the city boundary, and Prospect St changes names at the boundary. Part of a map of the council districts on Pawtucket's website. A large area between Prospect St and George R. Bennett Highway, circled, is in District 4 on the map.
October 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
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🧐 web.archive.org/web/20251016...
Text screenshot of the following bullet points. “‘four Es’: Economy, Education, Efficient Government, and caring for the Elderly. Additional specifics from his responses on voter guides: He would enhance government transparency by expanding the open request system and hosting mandatory town hall meetings every 60 days. He prioritizes school systems and senior citizen support. He proposes increasing the annual budget for affordable housing by at least 10%, and improving public access to records through streamlined tech-driven solutions like a website or app” I have highlighted the phrase “from his responses on voter guides”. At the bottom of the screenshot, a link to the “Meet Ray” page is visible.
October 16, 2025 at 4:52 PM