2021 Georgia Code
Title 21 - Elections
Chapter 2 - Elections and Primaries Generally
Article 6 - Registration of Voters
§ 21-2-213. County Deputy Registrars; Clerical Help; Appointment of County Officer or Employee as Chief Deputy Registrar
- The board of registrars in each county may appoint deputy registrars to aid them in the discharge of their duties. The number of deputy registrars appointed to serve shall be determined by the board of registrars. Such deputy registrars shall serve without compensation unless the governing authority of the county, by resolution, authorizes compensation. In appointing deputy registrars, the registrars shall select persons who are reasonably representative of a cross section of significantly identifiable groups of the communities or areas where they are to serve.
- The board of registrars in each county may hire clerical help to assist them in their duties if the compensation required therefor has been first approved by the governing authority of the county. Such additional clerks shall be eligible to be appointed as deputy registrars for the purpose of registering voters and performing other duties as may be required, but it shall not be necessary for such clerks to be electors of the county in which employed.
- In every county wherein the registrars do not maintain an office which is open and staffed during regular business hours, the registrars shall designate and appoint as chief deputy registrar a full-time county officer or employee for the purpose of registering eligible electors and performing other duties as may be required by the board of registrars. The governing authority of the county shall provide for the compensation of the chief deputy registrar in an amount not less than $349.60 per month. The name, business address, telephone number, and any other pertinent information relative to the chief deputy registrar shall be forwarded by the registrars to the Secretary of State's office, where such information shall be maintained on file.
(Code 1981, §21-2-213, enacted by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1443, § 3; Ga. L. 1996, p. 145, § 4; Ga. L. 1998, p. 295, § 1.; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1159, § 16; Ga. L. 2001, p. 902, § 16; Ga. L. 2006, p. 568, § 10/SB 450; Ga. L. 2019, p. 1015, § 8/SB 171.)
The 2019 amendment, effective January 1, 2021, substituted "$349.60" for "$293.29" in the second sentence of subsection (c).
Law reviews.- For survey article on local government law, see 34 Mercer L. Rev. 225 (1982).
OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Editor's notes.
- In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, opinions under former Code 1933, § 34-604 and Code Section 21-2-212 are included in the annotations for this Code section.
Delegation of responsibilities by Board of Registrars permissible.
- Read together, former § 21-2-212 and § 21-2-384 allow the conclusion that the Board of Registrars has authority to delegate to deputy registrars any of the tasks for which it is responsible. 1981 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 81-70 (decided under former Code Section21-2-212 as it read prior to the 1994 repeal and reenactment by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1443, § 3).
Board of registrars may not "hire" tax collector.- The Election Code does not authorize the Board of Registrars to "hire" the tax commissioner since the commissioner is by law a deputy to the board. 1965-66 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 66-137 (decided prior to 1982 amendment and under former Code 1933, § 34-604 as it read prior to the 1994 repeal and reenactment by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1443, § 3).
Oath may be administered in mass.
- Persons authorized to register voters pursuant to subsection (c) of O.C.G.A. § 21-2-212 may, after the registration cards have been completed by the applicants, administer the oath to all applicants at the same time and then obtain the required signatures individually. 1983 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 83-42 (decided under former Code Section21-2-212 as it read prior to the 1994 repeal and reenactment by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1443, § 3).
Registration in schools outside county.- Registrars and deputy registrars of a county are not authorized to go into a private high school or area vocational school which is located in another county for the purpose of registering qualified applicants enrolled at that school. 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 85-44 (decided under former Code Section 21-2-212 as it read prior to the 1994 repeal and reenactment by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1443, § 3).
Registration of students from other counties.- Principals and assistant principals of public and private high schools and the directors of area vocational schools are authorized to register all qualified students enrolled in their schools, notwithstanding the fact that the students do not reside in the same county in which the school is located. 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 85-44 (decided under former Code Section 21-2-212 as it read prior to the 1994 repeal and reenactment by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1443, § 3).
Other employees of school system not included.- Authority extends only to students and employees of the school and does not extend to other employees of the school system. 1976 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 76-37 (decided under former Code 1933, § 34-604 as it read prior to the 1994 repeal and reenactment by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1443, § 3).
RESEARCH REFERENCES
Am. Jur. 2d.
- 25 Am. Jur. 2d, Elections, §§ 177, 183. 72 Am. Jur. 2d, State & Local Taxation, § 872.
C.J.S.- 29 C.J.S., Elections, § 59. 78 C.J.S., Schools & School Districts, § 237. 84 C.J.S., Taxation, §§ 503, 510.
