State Election Board To Look at Stephens Co. Case Today

The State Election Board is expected to hear about the investigation into the decision earlier this year by Stephens County to combine its Registrar’s Office with the Probate Judge’s office at its meeting today.

The case, listed as “Stephens County Election Office Hours,” is on the election board’s agenda for its 10 a.m. meeting today in Atlanta.

In August, the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that it was 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 then-county Registrar Theresa Kelley had been moved into the Probate Judge’s office, where she would work part of the time, along with working part of the time in her then-job as Elections Superintendent and Registrar.

Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said that Kelley’s election responsibilities would 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 in August, 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.

The offices remain combined, though Kelley resigned in August from her position as Elections Superintendent and Registrar.

The position has not been filled permanently yet.