Fulton County files two Republican BRE nominees after heated public comments; two Democratic nominees confirmed

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners on May 21 voted to file nominations from the Fulton County Republican Party for two seats on the county Board of Registrations and Elections (BRE), while approving two Democratic nominees.

The commission voted 5–2 to file the Republican nominations of Julie Adams and Jason Frazier rather than confirm them; the body approved Democratic nominees Douglas Selby and Theresa K. Smith Crawford by unanimous votes. The decisions followed more than an hour of public comment and multiple motions on the floor.

The nominations touched off broad public testimony on both sides. Dozens of Fulton County residents came to the dais and Zoom to urge the commission either to confirm the Republican nominees so the board would have equal party representation, or to reject them because of past actions they said risked voter intimidation and burdening elections staff.

Advocates for denying the Republican nominees pointed to litigation and aggressive voter-challenge activity they said would threaten staff and voter confidence. Rachel Lastinger, associate director of the ACLU of Georgia’s Voter Access Project, told commissioners: “Jason Fraser’s record is not only disqualifying, it’s dangerous,” citing mass challenges and public naming of election workers.

Supporters of the Republican nominees argued the county’s registrations must be maintained and that the nominees would bring needed scrutiny. Commissioner Bridget Thorne, who voted to confirm some nominees in procedural votes and spoke during the nominations discussion, said, “The word ‘shall’ means shall,” arguing the governing authority retains an appointing role while balancing legal criteria and the parties’ nominations.

What the board decided - Douglas Selby (Democratic nominee) — confirmed unanimously; motion passed without recorded opposition. - Theresa K. Smith Crawford (Democratic nominee) — confirmed unanimously. - Julie Adams (Republican nominee) — commissioners voted to file the nomination (motion to file passed 5–2). - Jason Frazier (Republican nominee) — commissioners voted to file the nomination (motion to file passed 5–2).

Why it matters The BRE is the county body that oversees elections administration and provides governance and oversight of the county Department of Registration & Elections. The composition of the BRE affects official review of voter rolls, election-certification processes and the department’s public-safety posture. Commissioners and public speakers repeatedly framed the debate as a balance between ensuring list maintenance and protecting voters and election workers from undue challenges or harassment.

What happens next Filing a nomination leaves the seat open until a future board action or until a replacement is put forward. Commissioners who opposed confirmation said they did not dispute the need for balanced representation but cited concerns about nominees’ prior conduct or litigation history. Supporters said the party nominations should be respected to preserve bipartisan oversight.

Votes at a glance - Douglas Selby — Motion to approve: passed unanimously (no yea/nay breakdown recorded in minutes). - Theresa K. Smith Crawford — Motion to approve: passed unanimously. - Julie Adams — Motion to file (rather than confirm): passed 5 yeas, 2 nays. - Jason Frazier — Motion to file (rather than confirm): passed 5 yeas, 2 nays.

Context and legal references The county’s nomination process for the BRE is governed by county municipal code (Chapter 14, Section 33) and by state and federal election law that sets standards for voter registration and list maintenance. Many public speakers and commissioners invoked those authorities during the meeting.

Next steps and follow-up Commissioners requested additional briefings on board procedures and asked county staff to report back if further steps were needed to ensure the BRE can function with balanced party representation while protecting election workers and voters. The registrar’s office and county legal staff were asked to be prepared to respond to questions a future meeting might surface.

Ending The nominations debate underscored continuing local tensions about how best to secure and administer elections in Fulton County: whether to prioritize aggressive roll maintenance or prioritize the protection of voters and staff. Commissioners said they expect the public and the parties to remain engaged in the process as the BRE seats are finalized.