BOC to meet on election board proposal Jan. 25

Madison County commissioners will discuss a resolution to create a board of elections, Friday, Jan. 25.

That meeting is set for 9 a.m. in the county government complex in Danielsville and includes several other agenda items.

The latest form of the election board resolution includes a change to how the local head of elections will be appointed, with the BOC deciding last week to keep that appointing power at their own table, rather than delegating it to a local grand jury.

County commissioners are putting the finishing touches on the resolution that will be considered by the 2013 Georgia General Assembly, which convened this week.

The proposed elections board will include three members, with two recommended by local Republicans and Democrats. The third position, the chairman’s post, will be a full-time election superintendent position who oversees elections and voter registration.

The board recently agreed to have the county grand jury recommend an election board chairman to a superior court judge. But commissioners voiced concern Jan. 7 about the possibility of someone other than current county registrar Tracy Dean being nominated for the post.

“I don’t want her job to be in jeopardy,” said commissioner John Pethel, referring to Dean.

The commissioners agreed last week to have the BOC make a recommendation to a superior court judge on the election board chairman, leaving the grand jury out of the process.