Cairo to hold special mayoral election June 17; council introduces ordinance authorizing county help with elections

The Cairo City Council voted to set a special mayoral election for June 17 and introduced an ordinance authorizing the county Board of Elections to conduct some or all city election duties.

Council member Tony Bass explained the city charter requires a special election when a mayoral vacancy occurs and that the council had advertised to meet tight timelines. “Our charter says that in the event that we have a vacancy in the mayoral position, there's less than 6 months or more than 6 months remaining on the term … we have to have a special election to fill that,” Bass said.

The move follows recent changes in Georgia election law and the creation of a new local elections board that, council members said, increases coordination between city and county election officials. The city attorney, who presented the ordinance draft, said the measure is intended to comply with state requirements: “It's required by law. And it's drafted broadly to allow us to do all or some portion [of election responsibilities],” the city attorney said. The ordinance, introduced for council consideration, would permit the city to contract with the county Board of Elections to perform all or part of the city's election responsibilities; no final vote was taken on the ordinance at the meeting.

Council members and staff described ongoing discussions with county elections staff and county leadership to determine the scope and cost if the county is engaged to run the city's election machinery or to loan equipment. Council members said city staffers Dana and Booker have spent time coordinating with the county director of elections to understand options and costs.

The pending resolution to call the special election sets the election date for June 17 and moves the city into an accelerated timeline. Council member Faye White seconded the motion to adopt the resolution; the motion passed with no recorded roll-call tally. The council also noted that earlier windows for holding a special election this year — including March and a mid-September date — were missed or undesirable, leaving the June date as the earliest practical option.

Votes at a glance: The council recorded two formal votes during the meeting. The resolution calling the June 17 special election was approved (mover not specified; second by Council member Faye White). Separately, the council approved a package of 2025 renewals submitted under new business (motion and second; roll-call not recorded). The ordinance authorizing the county to conduct some or all election duties was introduced for consideration and no final vote was recorded on it at this meeting.

What happens next: The ordinance will return for formal council action at a later meeting. City staff will continue negotiating details and potential costs with county election officials and will proceed with special-election preparations under the approved June timeline.