The Columbia County Board of Elections is waiting for Gov. Brian Kemp to sign House Bill 730, which makes some changes to board appointments.
The bill was sent to the governor on April 5 and as of Wednesday, April 19 it had not been signed. Elections director Nancy Gay said her main concern was with board chair Ann Cushman’s position because it’s up this summer, but the other two representatives are not up until 2025.
“The consensus that I’ve gotten is that nothing is going to change,” said Cushman about her appointment to the board.
Gay said Cushman keeping her position would be a good thing because her biggest concern is going into the 2024 election season with someone who has little to no experience.
“That’s my biggest concern, that’s why I try to convey to them is that we didn’t want to go into 2024 with three brand new spanking (board members),” Cushman said. “…but what I’m getting is nothing is going to change as far as this position here will change unless I want it to.”
On March 29, the Georgia Senate passed and adopted 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.
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.”
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. Now that the Georgia Senate has passed/adopted the bill, it will be sent to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
For updates on the bill, visit https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/65302.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com
