Camden County elections board seeks five-day extension to finish verifying recall petition signatures for Woodbine council member

The Camden County, Georgia Board of Elections & Registration voted to apply to the Superior Court for a five-day extension to complete verification of signatures on a recall petition for City of Woodbine Council member Baird.

The request, approved by motion, asks the court to grant an extension through June 22 under Georgia Election Code 21-4-5(f)(2), which allows a judge to extend the five-day certification period for good cause. Chair Julia McCollough introduced the agenda item and read the relevant code aloud, noting the election superintendent’s authority to access registration records and to exclude signatures from the count if a signer is not eligible.

Acting Elections Supervisor Rockney Carter told the Board the office had not yet completed its review. "Yes ma'am, we're in the middle of a runoff election," Carter said, adding the office is managing an upcoming statewide recount, early processing of absentee ballots for the runoff, and a risk-limiting audit. He said the five extra days would allow staff to "further vet and complete the signatures" to confirm signers are bona fide residents and registered electors of Woodbine.

Vice-Chair Ray Hollen moved to apply to the Superior Court under Georgia Election Code 21-4-5(f)(2) for a five-day extension through June 22 to allow a thorough examination of the signatures on the recall application pertaining to Councilman Baird; Vernon Higgins seconded the motion. The motion carried 3–0. Board member Robin Mainor-Knight was recused from the matter and had temporarily left the chambers during the review; the minutes record her recusal during the vote.

During public comments before the item, resident John Burns of Woodbine said he had not been informed of the agenda; Chair McCollough responded that printed copies were available on a back table and staff would provide one. After the vote, Vice-Chair Hollen clarified that Camden County’s superintendent agreement with municipalities delegates election administration responsibilities to the county for municipal contests except candidate qualification, and he said the mutual agreement (signed around 2020) remains in effect through the end of next year.

The Board announced a Special Called Board Meeting scheduled for June 22. The requested extension, if granted by the Superior Court, would give elections staff additional time to complete signature verification for the recall application; the Board did not take further action on the petition during the June 15 meeting.