Irwin County elections board certifies canceled March race after disqualification; member with familial tie allowed to vote

The Irwin County Board of Elections & Registrations voted 2-0 on Jan. 6 to certify a canceled March 17 special election after the disqualified candidate did not file a timely appeal, making the disqualification final and leaving Vince Thompson as the sole remaining candidate.

The certification followed the board’s determination that Mr. Lake did not appeal the board’s disqualification within the 10-day window required by O.C.G.A. § 21-2-6 and after guidance from the Secretary of State’s Office that the board need not wait until the originally scheduled March election date to proceed. Supervisor Ethan Compton told the board the office published a Notice of Election Cancellation in The Ocilla Star, posted the notice at the county courthouse and on the county website, and transmitted the paperwork to the Secretary of State for final recognition.

“Certification is a ministerial task,” Compton said during the meeting, noting the office must complete certification by the March 23 statutory deadline for any March 17 special election. The board read the results aloud (Vince Thompson — one vote, counted under O.C.G.A. § 21-2-291 for an unopposed candidate) and signed the certifying forms.

The board discussed timing for certification given a recent change in county counsel and the potential for a challenge. Representative Wyatt Thompson acknowledged a conflict because the remaining candidate is his father but the board allowed him to cast his vote. Chairman Waymond Harris stated he supported the office’s actions and praised Supervisor Compton’s work.

The certification moves the matter to the Secretary of State’s office for final certification; once the state certifies, the Probate Court will be notified to arrange the swearing-in of the winning candidate. Compton said the office welcomes any differences in legal interpretation to be resolved in court.

Next steps: the board forwarded the signed certifying documents to the Secretary of State; any challenge to the certification would be subject to the statutory contest procedures in O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-522 and 21-2-524.