HB699: HB699 Dawson County; board of elections and registration; provide staggered terms

Dawson County's board of elections and registration was created by a 1998 state law. This bill rewrites part of that law dealing with how long the board's initial members serve. Under the change, the county governing authority must designate certain initial members to serve terms ending December 31, 2024, and designate other initial members to serve terms ending December 31, 2026, creating a staggered schedule instead of having all terms expire simultaneously. Once those initial staggered terms end, successors to those members would serve regular four-year terms and continue serving until their replacements are appointed and qualified. The bill repeals any conflicting laws. It applies specifically to Dawson County's election board and does not change election board rules anywhere else in Georgia.

• Rewrites paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 2 of the 1998 Dawson County elections board law to stagger initial members' terms.
• Requires the county governing authority to designate some initial board members to terms ending December 31, 2024.
• Requires the county governing authority to designate other initial board members to terms ending December 31, 2026.
• Sets four-year terms for successors to those designated members, who serve until their own successors are appointed and qualified.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with this staggered-term arrangement.

Members of the Dawson County board of elections and registration, the Dawson County governing authority responsible for appointing them, and Dawson County voters who rely on that board to run local elections.

By staggering when board members' terms expire, the county avoids having the entire elections board turn over at the same time, which can help preserve institutional knowledge and continuity on the board that oversees Dawson County's voting processes.

• Section 1 revises paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Section 2 of the 1998 Act creating the Dawson County board of elections and registration.
• Subparagraph (A) sets certain initial members' terms to end December 31, 2024, and until successors are appointed and qualified.
• Subparagraph (B) sets other initial members' terms to end December 31, 2026, and until successors are appointed and qualified.
• Subparagraph (C) sets all subsequent successor terms at four years, continuing until a successor is appointed and qualified.
• Section 2 repeals any laws or parts of laws that conflict with this Act.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 161
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-28Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-28Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-13House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Will Wade (R, HD-009)Primary sponsor
• Johnny Chastain (R, HD-007)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 13, 2025

   169 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #273

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 28, 2025

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #313

• election administration
• Dawson County
• local government
• board terms