Georgia CommonsHB 1557: Fayette County; board of elections; revise composition
Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action May 12, 2026 · Passed
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
House Bill 1557 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Mathiak of the 82nd, Bonner of the 73rd, Bazemore of the 69th, and Jackson of the 68th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend an Act to provide for the re-creation of the board of elections for Fayette County, approved March 24, 1994 (Ga. L. 1994, p. 3712), so as to revise the composition of the board; to revise provisions for appointment of board members; to provide for initial terms; to provide for current board members to serve out the terms to which they were appointed; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
An Act to provide for the re-creation of the board of elections for Fayette County, approved March 24, 1994 (Ga. L. 1994, p. 3712), is amended by revising Section 2 as follows: "SECTION 2.
(a) The board of elections shall be composed of five members, each of whom shall be at least 21 years of age and an elector of Fayette County and each of whom shall be appointed as provided in this section. Except as provided for in subsection (f) of this section, each member of the board shall serve terms of four years and until their successors are duly appointed and qualified. Terms of office shall begin on the first day of February following the expiration of the immediately preceding term of office.
(b) Four members shall be appointed by the governing authority of Fayette County from nominations as follows:
(1) Two members shall be appointed from a list of nominees provided by the chairperson of the county executive committee of the political party whose candidates at the last preceding general election received the largest number of votes in this state for members of the General Assembly; and
(2) Two members shall be appointed from a list of nominees provided by the chairperson of the county executive committee of the political party whose candidates at such election received the next largest number of votes.
Each nominee by the political parties shall be made and certified as follows: the member shall be nominated by the chairperson and ratified by the county executive committee of each of the above designated political parties at least 40 days before the beginning of the term of office, or within 40 days after the creation of a vacancy in the office, and the certification of the nomination of each member shall be made by the executive committee filing an affidavit with the governing authority. The governing authority shall then certify such appointment of the member such governing authority appoints from such list of nominees to the clerk of the superior court as provided in this section.
(c) The fifth member of the board shall be appointed by the governing authority of Fayette County without such individual having been nominated pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. The appointment of the fifth member of the board shall be made at least 30 days before the beginning of his or her term of office, or within 30 days after the creation of a vacancy in the office, and the governing authority shall certify such appointment to the clerk of the superior court as provided in this section no later than 20 days preceding the date on which such member is to take office, stating the name and residential address of the person appointed and certifying that such member has been duly selected and appointed as provided in this section.
(d) If the nomination of any such member of the board of elections by the political parties is not made as provided in this section, such member shall be appointed forthwith by the governing authority of Fayette County and, within five days after such appointment, certified as provided in this Act.
(e) Those members of the board serving on the effective date of this section shall serve out the terms to which they were appointed. The current member selected by the governing authority of the county shall have his or her successor selected as provided for in subsection (b) of this section.
(f) The initial fourth and fifth members of the board appointed pursuant to this section shall be appointed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section with one such member being nominated by each respective political party. Such members shall be appointed to initial terms ending on January, 31, 2028."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.