Heartfelt message from the elections director

Joy Scharich has a few months to go before she retires as the director of Oconee’s Registration and Voter office.  But, in front of her employers, she had a message that she would like to resonate with all who are entrusted with staging fair elections.  The conduct of elections in parts of the U-S came under attack last year, but Scharich today stressed importance that those in charge of elections should always carry out their duties in ways that engender public confidence.  In the case of Oconee County, Chairman Jim Murray of the elections board believes that the county’s elections were successful.  Scharich prefaced her remarks, by saying she has the highest respect for those who serve on the county board.  “We can’t tear down all this progress that we’ve made in getting people voting….by taking away the trust.  Elections with counts, recounts, audits and legal examinations of the facts must be at has to come from us,” Scharich says.  “In our democracy, every vote casts the same weight regardless of who casts it.”  More on her comments can be heard on 101.7/WGOG NEWS.