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Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County adopts ordinance creating Board of Elections to take effect Jan. 1, 2025
Summary
The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a home‑rule ordinance implementing O.C.G.A. § 21-2-40.1 to establish a three‑member Board of Elections and Registration and to create an elections supervisor position; appointments and operational details were discussed in a Nov. 25 work session.
The Board of Commissioners of the Unified Government of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County on Nov. 12 unanimously approved a home‑rule ordinance establishing a county Board of Elections and Registration that will assume election and voter‑registration duties on Jan. 1, 2025.
The ordinance implements O.C.G.A. § 21-2-40.1 and directs the county to create a three‑member board to take on the duties formerly held by the election superintendent and the board of registrars. The ordinance sets staggered initial terms, provides that members must be electors and residents of the county, and establishes the appointment and vacancy procedures the commission will use going forward.
Why it matters: State law required counties in which the probate court judge had served as election superintendent to create a board of elections if a local board had not been adopted. The new board will handle the conduct of primaries and elections and the registration of voters for Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County beginning Jan. 1, 2025.
Key features: The ordinance in the meeting record (Ordinance No. 2024-) prescribes a three‑member board appointed by the Board of Commissioners; the initial appointments are staggered (one initial term ending Dec. 31, 2026; two ending Dec. 31, 2028) and subsequent terms are four years. It requires that members be electors and residents, bars board members from serving while holding or qualifying as candidates for elective public office, and authorizes the board to organize, adopt bylaws and hold regular monthly meetings that comply with Georgia open meetings and records laws. The ordinance also authorizes an elections supervisor — a county employee hired by the County Manager after one to three candidates are recommended by the board — and makes board employees be county employees for pay and benefits purposes.
At the Nov. 25 work session the County Manager reported three recommended initial appointees would be added to the Dec. 3 voting agenda: Nancy Hoard, Valerie Lassiter and Crystal Walker. Commissioners discussed training availability and whether the commission would set compensation for board members; the ordinance specifies compensation is fixed by the board with governing‑authority approval and paid from county funds.
What commissioners said: Commissioner Jason Frost moved to approve the measure on its second reading; Commissioner Gerald Douglas seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Next steps: The ordinance takes effect immediately upon adoption, and the board and the County Manager will proceed with establishing the elections supervisor position and staffing. The commission will consider the recommended initial appointees and any compensation decisions at its next meeting.
