Bomb Threats Target DeKalb County Voting Precincts, Prompting Evacuations and Extended Hours
DeKalb County Voter Registration & Elections reported receiving bomb threats at seven locations, including five active voting precincts, leading to temporary closures while police conducted sweeps. DeKalb County Police Department is currently investigating and clearing the following precincts:
- New Bethel AME Church, 8350 Rockbridge Rd., Lithonia
- New Life Community Center, 3592 Flat Shoals Rd., Decatur
- North DeKalb Senior Center, 3393 Malone Dr., Chamblee
- Reid H. Cofer Library, 5234 Lavista Rd., Tucker
- Wesley Chapel Library, 2861 Wesley Chapel Rd., Decatur
Additional locations affected include the Salem Panola Library at 5137 Salem Rd., Lithonia, and the former Sam’s Club in Stonecrest, though the latter is not an active polling site.
“Every asset that we have will be deployed to ensure that every citizen who wants to vote will be given that opportunity and every vote cast will be counted,” stated DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. DeKalb VRE Executive Director Keisha Smith emphasized that all affected locations were closed “out of an abundance of caution” to protect voters and poll workers until police deem the sites safe.
To accommodate voters affected by the disruption, the DeKalb County Law Department is pursuing an emergency order to extend voting hours at these precincts once they reopen.
UPDATE: The DeKalb Police Department (DKPD) says that all sites have been checked, deemed safe, and reopened. DKPD thanked the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Marta Police, Brookhaven Police, and Chamblee Police for their help in clearing the locations in a safe manner.
