Ga. Secretary of State Investigating Merger of Stephens Co. Probate, Registrar’s Offices

The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office is looking into the decision earlier this year by Stephens County to combine its Registrar’s Office with the Probate Judge’s office.

On Wednesday, the Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that it currently had an open investigation into Stephens County over the matter.

According to the initial incident report provided by the Secretary of State’s Office, the investigation, which was opened in June, is dealing with concerns over whether Stephens County is operating a full-time Registrar’s Office.

On February 9, WNEG reported that Registrar Theresa Kelley had been moved into the Probate Judge’s office, where she will work part of the time, along with working part of the time in her current job as Elections Superintendent and Registrar.

Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said that Kelley’s election responsibilities will not change, but she would now report to and work under Probate Judge Glenda Ernest in the Probate Judge’s office, then be out of that office when she has to run early voting or an election.

According to Ayers, the move to combine the offices was done in an effort to save money in the county budget and use tax dollars more efficiently since the elections office was idle during times when elections were not taking place.

Also, Ayers said the county would be able to cross-train other employees in the Probate Judge’s Office on Elections to assist in that area if it is ever needed.

Responding to the investigation, Stephens County Attorney Brian Ranck said that the county is very confident that the county’s elections office meets the legal requirements and that elections officials are more accessible than they were before the merger.

Ranck said the main issue of notifying the public of the location of the elections officials was a misunderstanding as the elections office did not move.

According to Ranck, that office has remained in the same location with no change as far as the public is concerned.

He said the secretary of state’s office misunderstood that elections had moved when in fact it did not, noting that elections is in the same location as prior to the merger and has the same phone number for the public.

Finally, Ranck said there is more staff available for the public after the merger, explaining that there are two deputy registrars available to the public in addition to Kelley remaining as the full time Registrar.

The Secretary of State’s Office said that the matter could come before the State Election Board at its next meeting.