February 26, 2021
Volume 12, Issue 7
|
|
Several Senate Election Bills Crossover to the House |
|
During the last week, four significant bills impacting county election administration passed out of the Senate and are awaiting House action. One bill, Senate Bill 40, has bipartisan support. All appear to be supported by Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan. These bills are:
-
SB 40 (Sen. Jen Jordan) – requires local election offices to begin processing and scanning absentee ballots on the second Monday prior to an election.
- ACCG has a policy position supporting "optional" earlier processing/scanning as smaller counties with fewer absentee ballots may not need to begin this process that far in advance of the election.
-
SB 89 (Sen. Butch Miller) - establishes the position of chief elections assistance officer within the Secretary of State’s Office to support and assist county election superintendents, including their training. The officer will also investigate the causes of low performance and lack of adherence to election laws and procedures by superintendents; and the state could fund a comprehensive on-site evaluation of local management practice. Ultimately, the state may suspend and replace a local board of elections.
- Several counties have expressed support for this state training and assistance; however, they are uneasy with the state being able to suspend and replace local election officials – at a county’s expense.
-
SB 184 (Sen. Bill Cowsert) – requires local boards of registrars to enter into the statewide voter registration system credit for voting by qualified electors to the Secretary of State within 30 days (current law is 60 days) of a primary or general election for the purpose of maintaining the list of electors and voter history. The State Election Board may fine delinquent local boards of registrars $100 per day for failure to do so.
- ACCG is checking to see if counties can be fined through no fault of their own if the state fails to make its timely data entries.
-
SB 188 (Sen. Bill Cowsert) – requires the Secretary of State to establish and maintain an election results reporting system for primary, general, and runoff elections. As election returns become available, the county election superintendent must enter this information into the reporting system, but must first enter the number of in-person ballots cast in the such precinct, the number of absentee ballots received as of the close of the polls, and the number of provisional ballots cast in such precinct. This is a fine concept but may not be entirely feasible for larger counties.
|
|
Click on "This Week's Bills" to review the bills included in this week's Legislative Update. |
Access the Legislative Tracking Database for a compilation of all bills ACCG is following. |
|
Senate Introduces Omnibus Election Bill
Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan introduced Senate Bill 241, the Senate’s omnibus election legislation for the 2021 session. The bill is extensive and several changes are ongoing. Among its many sections are provisions that:
- Require a copy of state-issued ID to accompany an absentee ballot
- Require absentee ballot requests be stated under oath
- Eliminate no-excuse absentee ballots in many cases
- Require courts to hear ballot tabulation process disputes within 2 business days of a complaint being filed
- Restrict the use of mobile voting units
- Remove county election officials or entire boards of election for malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence or inability to perform the duties of the office
- Require all counties to report their total number of absentee, in-person and provisional ballots immediately after the close of the polls
- Require counties to continuously report ballots received
This legislation is expected to undergo several changes in the coming days. Accordingly, ACCG has provided a rough summary of the bill as it was introduced, which can be found here.
Watch the SB 241 Committee Hearing
A recording of the SB 241 presentation to the Senate Ethics Committee can be viewed here. *Begin viewing at the 49-minute mark.
|
|
House Committee Passes the Chamber's Omnibus Election Bill
This week, the House Special Committee on Election Integrity passed House Bill 531, by Rep. Barry Fleming, also containing numerous revisions to Georgia’s election law. This legislation contains five of ACCG’s 2021 election priorities; however, ACCG has not taken a position on most of the provisions. At the request of House Democratic leadership, ACCG provided a letter outlining its positions to the House Minority Caucus.
For a detailed summary of HB 531, please click here.
|
|
Please Review SB 62 with Your Election Officials and Share Your Thoughts with Your Senator(s)
Senate Bill 62 by Sen. Lindsey Tippins passed out of the Senate Ethics Committee. This bill will entail additional costs to counties with added ballot security/inscription and sorting requirements. In testimony, the author acknowledged that the state should provide financial assistance to counties to comply; however, there is no state funding in the budget for this purpose, nor has it been requested.
|
|
House Bill Authorizing State to Temporarily Administer Local Elections Gets Hearing
On Wednesday, House Bill 493 by Rep. Shaw Blackmon received its first hearing; however, the bill has not yet passed out of committee. This legislation authorizes the State Election Board to conduct a disciplinary hearing (under a process already in state law) and then temporarily assert direct control over the local administration of elections for up to 18 months. The State Board may assume election and voter registration duties, or it may appoint the Secretary of State to do so. ACCG expressed concerns with having the state assume local administration responsibilities and is currently working with the author to see if some sort of compromise can be reached.
Watch ACCG’s Deputy Legislative Director Todd Edwards testify on HB 493 here and go to the 18:20 mark.
|
|
Election Summary
All of the more-than-80 election bills introduced this session will impact various counties differently. Accordingly, please talk to your election officials on bills (particularly those highlighted in ACCG Legislative Updates) to understand their implications on your county and share any concerns with your legislative delegation.
|
|
Changes to Broadband Grant Program - Feedback Needed
House Bill 608 makes changes to the state’s broadband grant program by allowing "qualified broadband providers" to apply directly for the grant funds, when current law only allows counties, cities or local authorities as eligible applicants. Also, the legislation restricts grants being awarded to a project or area that has already received funding (federal, state or local) or to an area where there is already a broadband provider.
|
|
Truck Weight Increase for Logging Trucks
Senate Bill 118, a bill that increases the weight limit for logging trucks to 100,000 lbs., was heard earlier this week in the Senate Transportation Committee. ACCG joined the Georgia Municipal Association, the Georgia Department of Transportation, and the Georgia Department of Public Safety in speaking against the bill.
The committee meeting recording can be found here and an article recapping the testimony is linked here. At the conclusion of the meeting, Chairman Ginn created a subcommittee to analyze and research the bill between this session and the next session.
|
|
Trust Fund Dedication Bill Advances
House Bill 511 passed out of the House Appropriations Committee this morning. This bill dedicates nine trust funds including the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund and the Solid Waste Trust Fund. ACCG supports HB 511 as counties have advocated for more than 10 years for the two environmental funds to be dedicated.
|
|
Resolution to Study Annexation Dispute Resolution Introduced
At the request of various counties, Rep. Victor Anderson introduced House Resolution 222 this week to create a House Study Committee on Annexation. This study committee, made up of five House members, will examine and make recommendations to improve current state annexation laws and procedures. In particular, the study committee will examine the state’s annexation dispute resolution process to consider potential improvements. Should this pass, ACCG looks forward to working with legislators and the Georgia Municipal Association on these issues.
|
|
Counties May Have More Options for Public Works Contracting
This week, House Bill 435 by Rep. Victor Anderson passed the House Governmental Affairs Committee. Current law requires all local government public works construction contracts valued at over $100,000 go out for public bid. This bill allows counties to forgo the bid process if they go through contracts that have been competitively procured by the state or through a cooperative purchasing organization, certified by the state as a source of supply. ACCG supports this bill.
|
|
Stay Connected and Engaged! |
|
Watch the Virtual Legislative Update Via Zoom
ACCG would like to remind county officials that it has transitioned the Facebook Live Legislative Update to the Virtual Legislative Update now hosted via Zoom. Click here to watch the recap of today's live event.
The Virtual Legislative Update will take place every Friday at 9:00 a.m. Those interested in joining the conversation each week can do so by accessing this link.
|
|
Policy Communication Tools
Don't forget about the various communications tools that will help keep you informed and engaged. Click here to read all about them!
|
|
News You Can Use - Articles Related to ACCG Policy Issues
Articles covering some of ACCG's major policy issues are found here. Click the hyperlinked title to begin reading.
Associated Press- February 26, 2021
Georgia Recorder- February 25, 2021
Walker County Messenger- February 24, 2021
Atlanta Journal-Constitution- February 24, 2021
|
|
|
|
Questions? Email the
ACCG Legislative team:
|
|
ACCG is YOUR county association. We are here to advance all 159 Georgia county governments. Please feel free to contact a member of the policy team if they can assist in any way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
