HB 788: Macon County; rename position of chief election official as chief election supervisor

Macon County has a board of elections and registration created by a 2003 state law. This bill amends that law in several ways. It renames the top election staff position from chief election official to chief election supervisor, and it clarifies that while the board oversees that person's election duties, the county manager oversees their nonelection duties, such as general administrative matters. The bill also bars board members from political activities like distributing campaign literature or wearing partisan clothing near the board office or polling places, requires board members to take the same oath as county registrars, updates rules for board meetings and records to align with Georgia's open meetings and open records laws, and confirms that the county's governing authority sets compensation for board members, the chief election supervisor, and election staff. The changes take effect once enacted, repealing any conflicting prior laws.

• Renames the position of chief election official to chief election supervisor in the Macon County elections law.
• Assigns the county manager supervision over the chief election supervisor's and election staff's nonelection duties, while the board retains oversight of election duties.
• Prohibits board members from political activities such as distributing campaign literature, criticizing or advocating for candidates on social media, or displaying partisan clothing or signage near the board office or polling places.
• Requires board members to take substantially the same oath required by law for county registrars.
• Updates meeting, minutes, and records requirements for the board to align with Georgia's open meetings law (O.C.G.A. Title 50, Chapter 14) and open records law (O.C.G.A. Title 50, Chapter 18, Article 4).
• Confirms the county's governing authority sets compensation for board members, the chief election supervisor, and election staff.

Macon County's board of elections and registration, its members, the chief election supervisor (formerly chief election official), other election office staff, the county manager, and the county's governing authority, which sets pay and funds the elections office.

The bill changes how Macon County's election office is structured and supervised day to day, clarifying who oversees nonelection administrative matters versus election duties, and sets clearer limits on political activity by board members, which could affect how the office operates and is perceived as impartial.

• Section 1 revises Section 4 to rename the chief election official as chief election supervisor and split oversight between the board (election duties) and county manager (nonelection duties).
• Section 1 also revises Section 5 to bar board members from political activities including campaign literature distribution, partisan social media advocacy, and partisan clothing or signage within 150 feet of the board office or polling places.
• Section 2 revises Sections 7 and 8, requiring board members to take an oath similar to county registrars' oath and confirming vacancy-filling procedures.
• Section 3 revises Section 15 to set meeting requirements, including monthly meetings and compliance with Georgia's open meetings law, and record-keeping tied to the state's open records law.
• Section 4 revises Section 16(b) to specify that the county's governing authority determines compensation for board members.
• Section 5 revises Section 17, allowing the board to spend county funds on offices and staff subject to county appropriation and personnel rules.
• Section 6 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date
2. 2025-05-13Act 229
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-31Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-27House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Patty Marie Stinson (D, HD-150)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 27, 2025

   164 yea, 0 nay (12 not voting, 4 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #317

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2025

   49 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 2 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #339

• local elections administration
• Macon County government
• election officials
• open meetings and records