The Clarke County Board of Elections is holding a special called meeting today. A public comment period will be open before board members decide when to hold a special election to fill the District 2 seat vacated by Mariah Parker.
The elections board met last week to discuss the special election and heard from about a dozen community members in a sometimes-heated public comment period. Most commenters urged the board to set the special election for November 8, concurrent with this year's general election, but county elections staffers said that the short timeline would lead to mistakes and complications.
Board of Elections Chair Rocky Raffle said the Special Election can take place in November with the midterms but there would have to be separate staff, and separate machines.
Last week, Athens-Clarke County Commissioners voted to urge the Board of Elections to instead consider a March election date, in order to give candidates time to campaign and to address legal issues surrounding redistricting and which voters should be allowed to participate.
Tuesday's meeting is from 4:30 to 5:30 pm at the Athens Regional Library.
