Gilmer County’s probate judge wants to remove elections oversight from his list of duties.
Probate Judge Scott Chastain made his pitch to the Gilmer County’s commissioners during the free speech part of their Nov. 12 meeting.
“I think with 23,500 plus or minus registered voters in Gilmer County and 16,500 or so of those voting in this last election, Gilmer County has risen to the level of population where it is very difficult, I believe, for me to continue to do what I do as a probate judge and put on a hat as an election superintendent as well,” he said.
Chastain said out of the 159 counties in Georgia, only 32 probate judges are still in charge of elections. In the remaining counties, an election board oversees the voting process.
“The probate office, which is where I spend the majority of my time, you know, has a lot of other duties and responsibilities,” he said.
Duties include probating estates, issuing marriage licenses and gun permits and overseeing traffic court.
Chastain said the elections are taking up more time and detracting from his other duties.
“I would like to again ask the board of commissioners to consider, and hopefully work with me, to try and create a board of elections for Gilmer County,” he said.
Gilmer County is the only county in north Georgia which does not have an election board. He believes the nearest county is Chatooga County.
Chastain gathered legislation from Fannin and Dawson counties about changing to a board. He said White is in the process of creating one.
“It seems to vary on how many people are on the board, and it seems to vary how they get appointed,” Chastain said.
Boards in each county have been set up differently. He said some are three-person boards, some are five. Most have an equal number of Democrats and Republicans with the chair being appointed by the board of commissioners or being the chief registrar.
Chastain said he called the other 31 probate judges in charge of elections in their county, and 28 of them want out of election oversight.
“If I call today, I might get all 32 of them,” he said.
He urged the commissioners to set up their own board before the state steps in and creates a board. There are no plans for the state to do this, but, he said he could see it happening.
“I do believe that is where we are headed,” he said.
Compensation for being election supervisor in Gilmer County is $4,600.
“I went through that the first week after the first election when we were up all night long,” Chastain said.
He wants to work with commissioners on getting an election board created and would prefer that route.
“My only alternative is if y’all don’t want to do that is for me, myself, to go to Atlanta and try to get something done here in the county,” he said.
Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris said he would have a problem with one aspect. Gilmer County, based on the latest election results is 80 percent Republican.
“So, if we were to have a five-person board, and we set it up with two Democrats and two Republicans, I don’t think that’s right in a county that is 80 percent Republican,” Paris said. “That is giving a 20 percent party 50 percent input. Having said that, I don’t have a solution to it.”
Chastain said he understands the point of view, seeing the numbers. But, he said, the board is governed by the same rules he has to follow.
“I think there are ways to make it work,” he said.
Gilmer County Chief Registrar Tammy Watkins agrees with Chastain.
“I think it is time we go to a board,” she said. “I feel like the county would benefit from it.”
Paris said they would put it on the December agenda for more discussion.