Judge clears Cobb Democrat to run after double voting dispute

David Dillie remains eligible to run for the Georgia House of Representatives after a state administrative law court judge ruled against disqualifying him for voting in two states. The decision cleared the 24-year-old Democrat to continue his bid for District 161 in the November 3 midterm elections. The judge found that Dillie had no identifiable intent or motive to vote in Nevada’s primary and did not, in fact, cast a ballot there.

Dillie, an aircraft mechanic and college student from the Savannah area, initially faced a challenge after voting records showed he cast ballots in both Georgia and Nevada during the June 9, 2024, primary. At the time, he was a student at the Savannah Tech National High School for Future Leaders. He had used a provisional ballot in Nevada before returning to Georgia for the rest of the week.

The dispute centered on whether Dillie maintained a legal residence in Nevada. His father, who had been a member of the Navy, had moved the family to Nevada in 2020. Dillie claimed he had established residency there, but voters in Georgia questioned his status. A photo copy of the submitted ballots was used as evidence in the case.

The judge noted that Dillie failed to participate in the primary election in Nevada due to a technical challenge. He was not registered to vote in Nevada and faced complications with his mail-in ballot. The court determined that these factors, combined with his return to Georgia, supported the finding that he did not intend to vote in both states.

Dillie said he has maintained his innocence since the beginning of the controversy. “I cannot wait to see what Nov. 3 brings,” he stated. He described the experience as stressful but expressed relief at the court’s decision. The ruling follows an earlier effort by a state election official to disqualify him, which was ultimately rejected.

The case attracted attention because of the implications for other candidates who may have voted in multiple states. Election officials in Georgia had asked for guidance on how to handle similar situations. The judge’s decision provides a specific precedent for cases involving provisional ballots and residency disputes. Dillie now focuses on his campaign in District 161, representing the Republic of Georgia. He is one of several candidates running in the district this cycle.