HB 1557: Fayette County; board of elections; revise composition

Fayette County's board of elections has been governed by a 1994 state law setting out how its members are chosen. This bill rewrites that law's Section 2 to restructure the board. Instead of the previous makeup, the board will now have five members, each at least 21 years old and a Fayette County voter, serving four-year terms starting February 1 after the prior term ends. Four members will be appointed by the county's governing authority from nominee lists submitted by the two political parties whose candidates got the most and second-most votes in the last general election for the General Assembly, two nominees from each party. A fifth member is appointed directly by the governing authority without a party nomination. Current board members finish out their existing terms, and the new fourth and fifth members get initial terms ending January 31, 2028. The law takes effect once signed by the Governor or otherwise enacted.

• Restructures the Fayette County board of elections to have five members instead of the prior composition, each at least 21 and a county elector.
• Requires four members to be appointed by the county governing authority from nominee lists submitted by the two leading political parties, two nominees per party.
• Allows the governing authority to appoint a fifth member directly, without a party nomination process.
• Sets four-year terms starting February 1 after the previous term ends, with specific deadlines (40 days for party nominees, 30 days for the fifth member) for certifying appointments before a term or vacancy.
• Lets current board members finish the terms they were already appointed to, while setting initial terms ending January 31, 2028 for the new fourth and fifth members.
• Makes the law effective upon the Governor's signature or otherwise becoming law without signature.

Fayette County residents and voters, the Fayette County board of elections and its members, the county's governing authority, the clerk of the superior court, and the local executive committees of the two leading political parties, who all play roles in appointing or certifying board members.

The changes determine who controls the makeup of the body that runs elections in Fayette County, including how political parties influence appointments and how quickly vacancies must be filled, which affects public confidence in and accountability of local election administration.

• Section 1 rewrites Section 2 of the 1994 Fayette County elections board law to set a five-member board with age and residency qualifications and four-year terms beginning February 1.
• Subsection (b) requires the county governing authority to appoint four members from party-nominated lists, two nominees each from the top two parties by vote count in the last General Assembly election.
• Subsection (c) allows a fifth member to be appointed directly by the governing authority, with certification to the clerk of superior court at least 20 days before the term begins.
• Subsection (d) requires immediate appointment by the governing authority if a party fails to nominate a member as required.
• Subsection (e) lets current board members finish their existing terms under the old rules, transitioning to the new system as terms end.
• Subsection (f) sets initial terms for the new fourth and fifth members, ending January 31, 2028.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 679
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-31Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-25Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-23House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)Primary sponsor
• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)
• Debra Bazemore (D, HD-069)
• Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 23, 2026

   158 yea, 0 nay (12 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #739

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   45 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 4 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #873

• Fayette County government
• election administration
• local elections board
• county appointments