Henry County commissioners and the Henry County Board of Elections and Voter Registration met in a joint session on Monday to discuss proposed changes to a county ordinance that would alter who appoints and to whom the county's election supervisor reports. After questions and requests from members of the elections board and several county commissioners, the group agreed to collaborate on revised language and table the amendment for further drafting and publication.

The matter drew its legal framing from County Attorney Serena Noel, who told both bodies that "the Georgia Constitution provides the manner in which counties can exercise what's called home rule authority" and that the county relied on Article IX, Section 2, paragraph 1(b) when amending local acts incorporated into the Henry County Code of Ordinances. Noel also noted specific ordinance sections referenced by the elections board during the meeting (for example, sections identified in the record as 3-2-57.14 and 3-2-57.15).

The elections board, led by Deidre Collins, chair of the Henry County Board of Elections and Voter Registration, said members sought a clearer role in hiring and removing the election supervisor. "We want to work together and not separately," Collins said, describing a signed resolution the elections board prepared after reviewing reporting models used by other Georgia counties. Vice Chair Omega Finney and other board members said the board's intent was to secure transparency and impartiality, not to operate as a separate or rogue entity.

Commissioners voiced concerns about preserving the county's HR and administrative framework while also addressing the elections board's call for involvement. Commissioner Robinson and Commissioner Lewis both emphasized the need for visible impartiality in elections administration; Robinson argued the elections board should be able to recommend hires and terminations while keeping HR procedures in place. Commissioner Wilson likewise said the election supervisor "should fall under the Board of Elections" for greatest transparency.

County Manager (name not specified in the record) and county staff said the county could provide a liaison and would support changes so long as any final structure aligned with Henry County policies. Staff explained that, as county employees, elections office staff are subject to county personnel policies and that employee files and HR actions would continue to be managed through county HR even if the supervisor's reporting line changed.

Representatives from the elections board described work already under way to establish standard operating procedures and performance reviews for the election supervisor, and they said they had compared reporting structures used elsewhere. County staff provided a list of counties whose election supervisors report to county managers (Fayette, Lumpkin, Wilkins, White, Habersham, Jackson and Camden) and a list of counties where supervisors report to election boards (Lamar, Mitchell, Crawford, Ware, Dodge, Dawson, Putnam and Murray).

The boards agreed to draft revision language collaboratively. County Attorney Noel said any amendment would require accurate publication and would follow the county's ordinance-adoption process. Commissioners and election-board members agreed to meet (including a small, non-quorum working group with HR and county staff) to produce a draft to appear on the board of commissioners' next agenda for further review and advertisement. The commission's timeline discussion noted that final adoption would require the ordinance to be advertised for multiple weeks, which likely pushed final adoption into early February if pursued on an expedited schedule.

Votes at a glance

- Henry County Water Authority appointments: Chair Fred Mays; District 1 Warren Holder; District 2 Richard Silvier Jr.; District 3 Lindsay McGarity; District 4 John Blunt; District 5 Myra Lott. Motion to approve: motion and second; outcome: approved ("Motion carries"). Vote tally not specified in the record.

- Henry County Development Authority appointments: Chair Charles Marshall (term through 2028); District 1 David Crow (through 2028); District 2 Pierre Clemens (through Dec. 2028); District 4 George Patterson (Feb. 1, 2025' Dec. 30, 2026). Motion to approve: motion and second; outcome: approved ("Motion carries"). Vote tally not specified in the record.

- Ordinance amendment (reporting/hiring of election supervisor): Motion to table pending collaborative revisions and to return the draft for publication and further review; motion and second; outcome: tabled. Specific date references in the meeting included putting a draft on the next agenda and that final adoption would require multi-week advertisement (the record refers to publication steps and estimated final adoption moving into February). Vote tally not specified in the record.

Why this matters

The reporting and appointment structure for the election supervisor shapes which body has operational influence over election administration, and both boards said they sought to avoid the appearance of partisan influence while ensuring operational accountability. The discussion took on urgency because elections administration requires staffing, standard operating procedures and coordination with municipalities ahead of upcoming municipal and statewide elections.

What happens next

Commissioners and the elections board will form a small collaborative working group (including HR and county staff) to produce revised ordinance language that aligns with county personnel policies and with statutory requirements referenced in the meeting. County Attorney Noel said she could prepare a draft for the board's next agenda once both boards provide their agreed changes. The group agreed to return the matter for proper advertisement and final consideration under the county's ordinance-adoption process.

Ending note

Both boards emphasized they wanted a transparent, impartial elections office and said they would continue working together to produce ordinance language that preserves HR functions while giving the elections board meaningful input on hiring and performance oversight of the election supervisor.