Ballot initiatives seek to change school districts, JQC
Voters get to decide on Opportunity School District, JQC abolishment and more
As November gets closer and candidates come down the home stretch of their campaigns, the Secretary of State’s office is offering up a guide to what constitutional amendments will be on this year’s ballot.
Four measures are up for vote that require a statewide vote, ranging from issues on education to how certain tax revenue will be spent.
Voters are being asked to decide on whether to allow for the creation of an Opportunity School District that will allow state intervention in failing schools.
This measure would allow the state to create a district specifically to place failing schools within and govern them from a state level until various scores – from test scores to budget numbers – get to acceptable state and federal levels.
It includes powers to receive, control and use federal, state and local funds that are either set aside by the federal or state government, or collected in local taxes. It would also take over management of the classrooms during the time a failing school is within its control.
It was placed on the ballot based on Senate Resolution 287.
A house provision – HR 1113 – is also on the ballot and looks to abolish and reform the Judicial Qualification Commission (JQC.)
State Rep. Trey Kelley ( RCedartown) was recently appointed by House Speaker State Rep. David Ralston to sit on a study committee with subpoena powers in order to determine what has gone wrong with the JQC.
Kelley said in previous reporting the commission has been plagued with problems over the past years.
If abolished, the state would then be responsible for forming a new JQC and re-appoint new members.
Voters will also get to choose whether to increase penalties on those who keep houses of solicitation and other forms of illegal adult entertainment in Georgia, especially those involved in exploiting children for sexual purposes.
This amendment is being sought following the passage of Senate Resolution 7, which looks to specifically target prostitution, illegal massage parlors and those specifically trafficking in sexual exploitation of children.
Along with upping penalties for these crimes, senate lawmakers also sought to increase fines on those caught in the act of running houses of solicitation, and using those funds along with allocation of state money to increase Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund.
The final ballot measure via Senate Resolution 558 seeks to take money collected in taxes on fireworks sales and dedicate them to funding trauma care, fire services and local public safety purposes within the state.
Voters who want to participate in the coming Nov. 8 general election will need to get their paperwork in to the Board of Elections or Secretary of State’s office prior to Oct. 11.
Registration forms are available at the Polk County Board of Elections office located within the county administration building at 144 West Ave., Cedartown. Those wishing to register must have on of the following: a driver’s license, social security card, passport, a firearm’s carry permit, a birth certificate or a legal document with their name and address on it to be able to register to vote.
No person who is currently or previously convicted of a felony, or judicially determined to be incompetent can vote.
The Board of Elections isn’t the only place to get registration forms. The public libraries in Cedartown and Rockmart, city administrative offices, recruitment offices, the county fire stations all have mail-in forms.
Go online to see if the department of driver services might have completed voter registration during license renewal time as well. Visit sos.ga.gov/ myvoterpage for more information.