SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::
The Spalding County Board of Elections has scheduled a special called meeting for 10 a.m. today.
This latest meeting has only one agenda item – to discuss a legal challenge of 181 electors.
The challenge was filed by Michelle Knight, who claims the 181 people currently registered to vote in Spalding County are ineligible to cast ballots in Georgia’s two U.S. Senate runoff races that will be decided Jan. 5.
Knight’s challenge is based on alleged changes of address that she says the Georgia Secretary of States Office has not comprehensively reviewed in at least 17 months.
The Board of Elections originally met Wednesday, Dec. 23 for the purpose of discussing Knight’s legal challenge of electors but upon Chairman Margaret Bentley calling the meeting to order, board member Betty Bryant immediately objected to the meeting on the basis it was being held in violation of the board’s own bylaws.
Bryant stated the bylaws require written requests of at least three board members to schedule a special called meeting and she was aware of none.
Board member Roy McClain, who participated in the meeting remotely by phone, requested Bentley present the requisite three written requests.
Bentley confirmed she had no written requests for the special called meeting, stating she had, as chairman, individually scheduled the meeting.
Board of Elections counsel Stephanie Windham, who also participated remotely by phone, confirmed the bylaws do require the three written requests, and after receiving that confirmation, Bentley received a motion and second to adjourn the meeting.
The GRIP will broadcast the meeting on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thegripnews.
The meeting will be open to the public. Mask use and social distancing is required. Seating will be limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
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Publisher’s note: This article has been updated to correct the date of last week’s meeting to Wednesday, Dec. 23, not Monday, Dec. 21.
