The changes to the Columbia County Board of Elections are moving forward.
After the Columbia County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution on March 7 asking the state legislation to submit legislation to the 2023 Georgia General Assembly to amend the composition of the Board of Elections. The changes are needed to stay in compliance with Delay v. Sutton, where the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that private organizations cannot appoint public officials to the Board of Ethics in DeKalb County.
“Under our current structure we violate a law upheld by the Supreme Court of Georgia, so we had to change the structure,” said BOC Chairman Doug Duncan previously told The Augusta Press. “So, we had to change the structure, we had to change the way folks are appointed. Once we were made aware, we’re not going to be in violation.”
Legislation was submitted as House Bill 730, “an act to create a board of elections for Columbia County and to provide for its powers and duties.” The bill states the Board of Elections will be made up of three members who are appointed by the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. The parties who received the largest and second largest number of votes in Columbia County at the last preceding regular general election held for the President of the United States will each recommend up to three candidates to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. This means that six total candidates will be presented to the Board of Commissioners, most likely three from the Republican Party and three from the Democratic Party.
The commissioners will select one recommendation from each party (two people total) to serve on the board. The third member of the Board of Elections will be appointed by the Board of Commissioners and serve as the chair. The only requirement to be a member is for the person to be an elector and a resident of Columbia County.
Previously, the Board of Elections members had one member from the political party who received the highest number of votes in the county for president, one member from the political party who received the second highest number of votes in the county for president, and the third member was appointed by the two political party members.
Once the bill becomes effective, the current members will serve out their appointed terms.
The Georgia House of Representatives passed/adopted the bill on March 20, and on March 21 the Georgia Senate read and referred it. Once the Senate passes the bill it will be sent to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
There are some slight changes to the bill from the original act passed by the Board of Commissioners. The main difference is the election the appointments follow, with the act from the commissioners stating it was the election of the governor, but the house bill changed it to the election of the president.
For updates on the bill, visit https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/65302.
