Madison County election commission approves posting of special-election notices; clarifies qualifying deadline

The Madison County Election Commission on Wednesday approved and directed staff to post notices for upcoming special elections and reviewed several routine election administration items, including a voter-move report and equipment-logistics questions ahead of municipal elections.

Circuit Clerk Anita Ray told the commission she had before her the VR001 report — the list of county voters who have moved within the county — and that 434 voters appear on that list. “I have, before me the v r 0 0 1 report … and there are 434 voters,” Ray said during the meeting.

The commission then considered a notice of special elections as presented in the agenda packet. Commissioners voted to approve and post the notice and to distribute copies to officials and public locations in each district to satisfy the posting requirement. The commission’s action directs the county’s election office to accept candidate qualifying papers for the contests and to process any candidates who meet the stated requirements.

Attorney Vince Blackguard summarized recent legislation and administrative guidance affecting local elections, saying the legislature moved the congressional primary from June to March (March 26) and that a new provision allows county boards of supervisors to pay an extra $35 per day to election workers on election day. “They changed the congressional primary date … March 26,” Blackguard said. He also told commissioners that, under the recent changes discussed at the state level, county-level contests may be decided by plurality rather than a runoff in some circumstances.

Blackguard and the commission clarified several practical deadlines and qualifications that will govern the special elections: the commission recorded a hard qualifying deadline of Sept. 5 at 5:00 p.m. in the circuit clerk’s office; county-level district contests require fewer petition signatures than statewide contests (the commission cited a 15-signature threshold for a district-level qualifying petition); and, per the attorney’s review and a call to the Secretary of State’s office, qualifying may begin immediately once the notice is posted, rather than only on a set start date.

Commissioners noted some uncertainty during discussion about which districts were affected; the agenda and discussion referenced the districts and vacancies that appear on the notice that commissioners voted to post. The commission’s attorney also explained the role of the Board of Supervisors in declaring vacancies and appointing interim replacements before any special election is scheduled.

Other business included routine approvals and an administrative discussion about logistics for municipal elections. The commission voted to accept purchase requests for March–May 2025 by district and to approve a list of inactive registrations for the same period. Commissioners discussed donating the commission’s older red ballot-supply bags to municipalities for their municipal elections; members raised concerns that handing the bags to cities might create extra work if the county still must pack or retrieve them. That proposal was opened for discussion only and not voted on.

The commission also approved payment of counsel’s invoice. Blackguard noted he had submitted a simple one-page contract letter for the commission’s review and said he had adjusted an administrative hourly/fee line for inflation in that draft. After the open-meeting vote to pay the invoice, the commission moved briefly into executive session to discuss pending litigation and then returned to open session.

Commissioners closed with calendar and training notes: summer training for election staff has arrangements in development (members referenced a June session at Golden Moon), and a national conference for election officials is scheduled for Aug. 20–24; staff and commissioners were told to confirm traveler names and clearances (including REAL ID/star on driver’s licenses) ahead of planned travel.

The commission adjourned with its next regular meeting set for Wednesday, June (time recorded on the agenda as 9 a.m.).