November 19, 2021–6:21 p.m.
NEWS RELEASE
State Representatives Katie Dempsey (R-Rome), Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee), Mitchell Scoggins (R-Cartersville), and State Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome), members of the Floyd County Legislative Delegation, today announced that Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bills 8EX and 9EX into law on Friday, November 19, 2021. This legislation seeks to modernize and improve the county’s election board by adding additional board members and a new elections supervisor position. The Floyd County Legislative Delegation issued the following statement regarding the legislation:
“Over the last year, Floyd County residents have made it clear that they want to feel confident that our elections are being run with integrity and efficiency, and revamping our elections board reflects these desires. This legislation will usher in a more robust elections board ahead of the next election cycle. We also recognized the need for increased staff support for the board, so we are grateful that the county will now have a full-time elections supervisor position, who will specialize in carrying out secure and efficient elections.”
The legislative package was sponsored by all members of the Floyd County Legislative Delegation. The Georgia House overwhelmingly passed the two bills on Monday, Nov. 15, and the state Senate gave final passage to the bills on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
House Bill 8EX reconstitutes and reestablishes the Floyd County Board of Elections and Registration on December 1, 2021. The board will be composed of five members who will be appointed by the Floyd County Board of Commissioners. Four members will be appointed from nominations made by the county executive committee of the two political parties whose candidates for governor at the preceding election received the first and second-largest number of votes in the county. The board of commissioners will appoint a fifth member to serve as the chairperson of the elections board. The board members will serve four-year terms, and the first members will begin their work as soon as the board is established.
This legislation also provides greater staff support to the elections board. Under HB 8EX, the Floyd County Board of Commissioners will appoint an election supervisor. The election supervisor will serve as staff support for the board, attend meetings of the board, assist the board in fulfilling its duties of voter registration and the conduct of elections and provide daily supervision of other county employees who assist the board. The election supervisor will be considered a full-time county employee and cannot be a member of the elections board.
In order to revamp the board of elections, House Bill 9EX dissolves the current structure of Floyd County Board of Elections and Registration.
For more information about HB 8EX, please click here.
For more information about HB 9EX, please click here.