Board of Registrars
Georgia Code: 21-2-212.
(a) The judge of the superior court
in each county or the senior judge in time of service in those
counties having more than one judge shall appoint quadrennially,
upon the recommendation of the grand jury of such county, not
less than three nor more than five judicious, intelligent, and
upright electors of such county as county registrars. The grand
jury shall submit to the judge the names of ten such electors
and the appointment shall be made therefrom and shall be entered
on the minutes of the court. When making such appointments, the
judge will designate one of the registrars as chief registrar
who shall serve as such during such registrar´s term of
office, and such designation shall likewise be entered on the
minutes of the court. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the
superior court to certify the appointments and designation to
the Secretary of State within 30 days after the appointments and
designation, and commissions shall be issued as for county officers.
When certifying such names to the Secretary of State, the clerk
of the superior court shall also list the addresses of the registrars.
Such judge will have the right to remove one or more of such registrars
at any time for cause after notice and hearing. In case of the
death, resignation, or removal of a registrar, the judge shall
appoint a successor who shall serve until the next grand jury
convenes, at which time the grand jury shall submit to the judge
the names of two judicious, intelligent, and upright electors
of such county; and the judge shall make an appointment from said
list, such successor to serve the unexpired term of such registrar´s
predecessor in office. In the event the grand jury is in session
at the time of any such death, removal, or resignation, such grand
jury shall immediately submit the names of said electors to the
judge for such appointment. Each such appointment or change in
designation shall be entered on the minutes of the court and certified
as provided in this Code section.
(b) Appointees under this article shall serve for a term of four
years and until their successors are appointed and qualified,
except in the event of resignation or removal as provided in subsection
(a) of this Code section. Their terms shall commence on July 1
and expire on June 30 four years thereafter. The first new grand
jury which convenes in each county in the year 1965, and each
four years thereafter, shall submit to the judge the list of names
as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section. Such list
shall be submitted to the judge, who shall appoint the registrars
and designate the chief registrar prior to June 30. No appointment
for a full term shall be made prior to January 1 of the year in
which the appointee is to take office. If no such grand jury is
convened or, if convened but failed to recommend, the judge shall
appoint the registrars without the necessity of any recommendation.
In the event that a registrar holds over beyond the end of the
registrar´s term of office due to the failure to have a
successor timely appointed and qualified, the successor shall
be appointed to serve the remainder of the term of office and
shall not receive a new four-year term of office.
(c) The governing authority of each municipality shall appoint
registrars as necessary, and the appointments shall be entered
on the minutes of the governing authority. The governing authority
shall designate one of the registrars as chief registrar. The
chief registrar will serve as such during such registrar´s
term of office, and such designation shall likewise be entered
on the minutes of the governing authority. Such registrars shall
serve at the pleasure of the governing authority, and compensation
of the registrars shall be fixed by the governing authority. Any
registrar shall have the right to resign at any time by submitting
a resignation to such governing authority. In the event of any
such removal or resignation of a registrar, such registrar´s
duties and authority as such shall terminate instantly. Successors
to resigned registrars shall be appointed by the governing authority.
Each appointment or change in designation shall be entered on
the minutes of the governing authority and certified by the governing
authority. The governing authority may furnish such employees
and facilities as it deems necessary for the operation of the
office and the affairs of the registrars.
(d) The chief registrar shall be the chief administrative officer
of the board of registrars and shall generally supervise and direct
the administration of the affairs of the board of registrars.
The chief registrar shall act as chairperson of the board of registrars
and, as chief registrar, shall perform those functions normally
devolving upon the chairperson. The board of registrars shall
meet each month on a day selected by the chief registrar to transact
the business of the board. The board shall also meet at other
times as needed upon the call of the chief registrar or upon the
request of two or more of the registrars. The chief registrar
shall be compensated in an amount of not less than $61.00 per
day for each day of service on the business of the board of registrars.
The other registrars shall be compensated in an amount of not
less than $48.00 per day for each day of service on the business
of the board of registrars. In lieu of the per diem compensation
provided for in this subsection, the chief registrar may be compensated
in an amount not less than $272.00 per month and the other registrars
in an amount not less than $242.00 per month. The per diem or
monthly compensation, as the case may be, shall be fixed, subject
to the limitations provided for in this subsection, by the governing
authority of each county and shall be paid from county funds.
The compensation of other officers and employees appointed and
employed under this article shall be fixed by the board of registrars
with the approval of the governing authority of each county and
shall be paid from county funds.
(e) Any other provision of this Code section to the contrary notwithstanding,
in any county of this state having a population of more than 600,000
according to the United States decennial census of 1990 or any
future such census, the governing authority of the county shall
appoint the county registrars in lieu of the judge of the superior
court. The appointments shall be entered on the minutes of the
governing authority. The governing authority shall designate one
of the registrars as chief registrar, who shall serve as such
during such registrar´s term of office. Such designation
shall likewise be entered on the minutes of the governing authority.
It shall be the duty of the governing authority to certify the
appointments and designation to the Secretary of State within
30 days after such appointments and designation. In certifying
such names to the Secretary of State, the governing authority
shall also list the addresses of the registrars. Such registrars
shall serve at the pleasure of the governing authority of the
county, and the compensation of the registrars shall be fixed
by the governing authority of the county. Any registrar shall
have the right to resign at any time by submitting a resignation
to the governing authority. In the event of the death, resignation,
or removal of any registrar, such registrar´s duties and
authority as such shall terminate instantly. Successors shall
be appointed by the governing authority. Each appointment or change
in designation shall be entered on the minutes of the governing
authority and certified as provided in this Code section. The
first appointments in any such county under this article shall
be made in the year 1965, and the persons appointed shall assume
office July 1, 1965. The governing authorities of such counties
may furnish such employees and facilities as they deem necessary
for the operation of the office and affairs of the registrars.
(f) The board of registrars of each county shall prepare annually
a budget estimate in which it shall set forth an itemized list
of its expenditures for the preceding two years and an itemized
estimate of the amount of money necessary to be appropriated for
the ensuing year and shall submit the same at the time and in
the manner and form other county budget estimates are required
to be filed. |