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Irwin County elections board approves 2026 meeting schedule and joins school board on ESPLOST renewal
Summary
The Irwin County Board of Elections & Registrations approved a tentative 2026 meeting schedule and a resolution recognizing the school board's call to renew the ESPLOST for the May 19, 2026 primary; the poll-worker appreciation lunch and community donation request were also confirmed.
The Irwin County Board of Elections & Registrations on Dec. 9 approved a tentative meeting schedule for 2026, confirmed a resolution joining the Irwin County School Board’s call to renew the ESPLOST on the May 19, 2026 primary ballot, and set logistics for poll worker appreciation and related community outreach.
Supervisor Ethan Compton presented a tentative schedule that follows the board’s bylaws where possible (meetings on the second Tuesday of each month) and schedules reconciliation and certification around post-election timing, including adjustments if a June primary runoff affects the June calendar. Representative Wyatt Thompson moved to approve the schedule; Chair Waymond Harris seconded and the motion passed 2–0.
On the ESPLOST renewal, staff noted the May 2024 ESPLOST was for two years and that the school board seeks a five-year renewal on the May 19, 2026 primary ballot. The board discussed that this is a renewal rather than a new tax and that the school board will publish required referendum notices to reduce costs to the county. Representative Thompson moved to approve the resolution; Chair Harris seconded. The motion passed with a 2–0 vote and Vice-Chair Patricia Thurman recorded as abstaining.
During public comment Becky Cook asked the board to read the exact ballot text for the ESPLOST; Supervisor Compton read the ballot text aloud and provided Cook with a copy of the forthcoming Call for Special Election. Board members also approved plans for a Dec. 12 poll-worker appreciation lunch to be a potluck with supervisory members covering primary protein costs to limit county expenditures. Assistant Supervisor Romans asked attendees to bring an unused, unwrapped toy for Sheriff Yaughn’s “Cody’s Kids” Toys for Tots program.
Other routine business handled at the meeting included approval of prior meeting minutes and a temporary relaxation of the agenda earlier in the session to address items before Vice-Chair Thurman arrived. The board adjourned at 4:43 p.m. and set its next meeting for Jan. 6, 2026 at 4 p.m.
