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Inform ★ Engage ★ Empower
February 2026
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Poll Watching
A Civic Role for This Moment
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On January 28, the FBI raided the Fulton County Election Hub.
That didn’t happen by accident — and it didn’t come out of nowhere. Fulton County has resisted transparency at every turn for years. Oversight stalled. Accountability stalled. Visibility stalled. Eventually, federal intervention became the only way to break the stalemate.
At the same time, we’re heading into one of the most important election cycles Georgia has seen in years — with federal races, statewide offices, and a Governor’s race that will shape the agencies, budgets, and institutions that run our elections.
So this moment is different — and it demands that more citizens step forward.
Transparency is no longer theoretical. It’s real.
Elections are no longer distant. They’re here.
That’s why this month’s focus is Poll Watching: A Civic Role for This Moment.
This is a time for Fulton County Republicans to step up — not with noise, not with confrontation, not with theatrics — but with presence. With visibility. With lawful, constructive participation in a system that needs eyes on it.
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Editor-in-Chief
Paul Miller is a Fulton County resident who has served as a poll worker, poll watcher, deputy registrar, and observer in Fulton County elections. A retired technology and business leader, he brings a practical perspective shaped by firsthand experience.
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🗳️ Fulton County GOP Election Integrity Leadership Team
Team Lead: Kevin Muldowney | BRE Liaison: Kevin Muldowney |
Poll Watchers: Steve Smith | Poll Workers: Lucia Frazier & Melissa Fioriollo |
Newsletter: Paul Miller | Design: Adrianne Miller
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FBI Raids Fulton County Election Hub
The federal cavalry has arrived
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On January 28, the FBI raided the Fulton County Election Hub as part of a federal investigation into election-related records from the 2020 Election.
This escalation didn’t come out of nowhere. For years, Fulton County has resisted transparency — delaying access, narrowing oversight, and blocking disclosure through every available channel. Requests stalled. Oversight failed. Accountability went nowhere.
Now federal authority has stepped in.
What couldn’t be resolved through normal processes is now being addressed through subpoenas, warrants, and enforcement. The raid marks a clear turning point — moving the issue from political dispute to institutional accountability.
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Following the FBI raid, I submitted a response that the AJC published (2/4).
At issue isn’t politics—it’s whether elections remain neutral civic infrastructure.
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Paper Ballots Gain Momentum at the Capitol
Election reform is back on the agenda
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Election reform is moving again at the Georgia Capitol.
A Senate bill from last session — SB214 — is now being carried forward in the House, with the House Governmental Affairs Committee picking up the issue. The core change getting attention is the voter experience: moving from ballot-marking devices (BMDs) to hand-marked paper ballots (HMPB) and eliminating QR-code-based tabulation.
This shift matters because it’s what most voters actually care about — paper ballots with visible choices they can see and trust.
At the same time, there’s growing recognition that real reform isn’t just about voting technology. Governance, transparency, reconciliation, and certification — especially in large, complex counties like Fulton — remain critical to restoring public trust.
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Why We Cannot Lose the Governor’s Office
In Georgia, power flows through the Governor
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Appropriations Week made one thing unmistakably clear: in Georgia, the Governor doesn’t just lead — the Governor controls the system.
From January 20–23, the General Assembly met in joint session as the Governor and state agencies presented their budgets and priorities. What that process reveals is how uniquely powerful the office is in this state.
The Governor sets the revenue estimate that caps all state spending, submits the executive budget, controls funding priorities, holds line-item veto power, and retains authority over how money is released to agencies. In plain terms, the Governor controls the levers of government — including the agencies and institutions that administer elections.
This is why the 2026 Governor’s race is different. It’s not just another campaign — it’s a control point. If we care about transparency, accountability, and how Georgia’s election system is run, we cannot afford to lose this office.
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Poll Watching
A Civic Role for This Moment
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Why Fulton Republicans Are Critical to Elections
Because size changes the math in Georgia
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It’s a safe bet that Republicans will lose Fulton County in statewide elections this year. That’s the political reality.
But that does not make Fulton Republicans irrelevant to Georgia elections — because Fulton is one of the largest vote-producing counties in the state.
From a statewide perspective, counties like Fulton, Gwinnett, and Cobb aren’t about party wins — they’re about vote volume. Even when they vote Democratic overall, they still contribute a large share of the Republican vote statewide.
Trump’s 2024 Georgia win does not happen without Republican votes from Fulton County.
- Not because Fulton flips — but because scale matters.
- Large counties shape statewide margins, totals, and outcomes.
That’s why engagement in Fulton isn’t symbolic — it’s strategic and essential.
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Fulton’s Transparency Problem
Why visibility matters
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When you vote, everything feels clear and tangible.
You see:
✅ the poll pads
✅ the ballot-marking devices
✅ the scanners
✅ your ballot going into the machine
✅ your “I Voted” sticker
What you don’t see is what happens next.
You don’t see:
❌ the memory cards
❌ the chain-of-custody forms
❌ the seal logs
❌ the reconciliation paperwork
❌ the workflows where counting, verification, and certification actually occur
In large, complex systems like Fulton County, that invisible layer is where trust is built — or lost. In government, it’s often said that sunlight is the best disinfectant — and in systems of this size, visibility isn’t optional.
That’s why citizen observation still matters.
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So What Can We Do?
From concern to constructive action
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The reality
You don’t control the rules, the system, or the processes.
And in Fulton County, Republicans don’t win many county-level races.
But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless.
You still participate.
You still vote.
You still support candidates.
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The answer
You still have a lawful role in how elections are observed and administered.
There is a civic role available to ordinary citizens — one that doesn’t involve protest, confrontation, or politics at the polls.
It’s called poll watching.
And it’s how citizens move from concern to participation — and from distrust to direct understanding of how elections actually work. |
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Poll Watching in Brief
What it is — and what it isn't
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What it IS
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A lawful citizen role in Georgia elections
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Professional observation
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Presence, not interference
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Documentation, not disruption
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Transparency, not politics
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Civic participation, not activism
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How it Works
From showing up — to making a real contribution
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How poll watching works in practice
1) You observe
You’re present at assigned polling locations and observe how the voting process operates — professionally, respectfully, and lawfully.
2) You document (on paper)
Because electronics aren’t allowed in the voting area, you record your observations using a simple paper form — focused on facts, not opinions.
3) You summarize and report
After your shift, you translate the key observations into a short, structured online report — capturing the most important points clearly and consistently.
4) You escalate when needed
If you see something that requires immediate attention, you have clear guidance and a direct point of contact for escalation.
5) You're supported
You’re part of a coordinated team — with training, communication, and support before, during, and after Election Day.
You're not alone — and you're not improvising.
This is a structured, organized, professional civic effort.
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Why I Poll Watch
What I give — and what I get in return
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Kevin Muldowney lives in Milton and serves as Vice Chair of the Fulton County Republican Party. Beyond his leadership role, he’s also a long-time poll watcher who has spent years directly participating in Fulton County elections.
In addition to doing this work for his community and his party, Kevin does it for himself.
For him, poll watching is a way to understand how elections actually work — not in theory, but in practice. It’s a chance to step inside the process, learn the system, and engage in something meaningful, structured, and real. It’s civic participation that builds understanding and purpose — through presence and responsibility, not conflict or spectacle.
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Join Us for the 2026 Election Kickoff Party!
Secure the Vote and the Election Process!
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2026 Election Kickoff Party
Get out the vote — and then guard it!
📍 Hudson Grille - Sandy Springs
6317 Roswell Rd NE
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
🗓 Monday, February 23
🕡 6:30 PM
Hors d'œuvres provided / Cash bar
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Join us for a combined GOTV + Poll Watching kickoff event as we launch the 2026 election cycle.
This is a chance to:
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Connect with others who care about elections and civic participation
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Learn how you can get involved in a meaningful, constructive way
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Meet the Poll Watching and Election Integrity team
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Kick off the year in a relaxed, social setting
Whether you’re ready to jump in or just curious to learn more, you’re welcome. Get out the vote. And then guard it.
Participation is step one. Protection is step two.
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Tell us what matters most to you.
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If you have ideas, questions, or topics you think deserve attention, we want to hear from you. Election integrity is a team effort — and your perspective helps us stay focused on what matters most.
Based on the feedback we received last month, readers showed the strongest interest in understanding how ballots are counted, reinforcing the value of continuing to focus on practical, process-level election details.
You can also use this space to suggest improvements to our Election Integrity Resource Guide, the go-to starting point for anyone getting involved.
Share your thoughts anytime →
Looking for earlier editions? Browse all past FCRP Election Integrity Newsletters here.
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