New county board of elections to oversee voting in Laurens

A new board of elections will oversee voting in Laurens County, replacing the current board of registrars, as well as the county probate judge as election superintendent.

The Laurens County Commission voted this week to create a board of elections and registration. The changes are mandated by a new state law aimed at ending the involvement of probate court judges in elections. Counties where the probate court judge currently serves as the election superintendent are required to establish a board of elections.

Laurens County is one of about 25 counties where the probate judge is election supervisor.

“This is no longer an option for counties,” County Administrator Bryan Rogers told the commission. “You are required to create a board of elections.”

The commission approved bylaws for the new board, but momentarily delayed appointing its members after Commissioner Brenda Chain objected to reappointing the five current members of the board of registrars.

She made a motion to table the appointments, even though the law requires the new board of elections be in place by Jan. 1.

“I have several citizens who want to serve,” Chain said. “The board hasn’t had time to consider other appointees. I think we should reschedule and table this.”

Commissioner Kevin Tanner suggested keeping the current registrars because of their experience.

“This is new to us. We’ve already got that board intact. My thing is, go ahead and settle it tonight. We’ve known about this for six months,” Tanner said.

“This is an opportunity to make changes,” Chain said, “and I think changes need to be made.”

Chain’s motion to table the appointment died when it failed to get a second. A motion to reappoint the current county board of registrars passed by a 4-1 vote, with Chain opposed.

The bylaws establish a five-member board of elections. In order to stagger the terms, two of the members – Keith Alligood and Christine Baker – were appointed to two-year terms. The others – chief registrar David Gay, Alan Scarborough and Gladine White – were appointed for four more years.

The new law does impose a form of term limits for the board of elections. Members can serve no more than four consecutive terms.

The new board will appoint an administrative director, to be known as the election supervisor, to “administer and supervise conduct of elections, primaries, and registration of electors for the county.” The board also is authorized to employ full-time and part-time employees, including a chief clerk.