Bill Text: GA HB632 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Augusta-Richmond County; mayor and members; partisan elections

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-11 - House Second Readers [HB632 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB632-Introduced.html

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11 LC 34 3052

House Bill 632

By: Representatives Murphy of the 120th, Howard of the 121st, Frazier of the 123rd, and Smith of the 122nd

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend an Act providing for the consolidation of Richmond County and the City of Augusta, approved March 27, 1995 (Ga. L. 1995, p. 3648), as amended, so as to provide for partisan elections for the mayor and members of the Augusta-Richmond County Commission; to provide for preclearance under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

An Act providing for the consolidation of Richmond County and the City of Augusta, approved March 27, 1995 (Ga. L. 1995, p. 3648), as amended, is amended by revising paragraph (1) of subsection (d) in Section 3 as follows:

"(d)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all primaries and elections for the mayor and members of the commission shall be in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., known as the 'Georgia Election Code,' as now or hereafter amended. Beginning on the effective date of this Act, all primaries and elections for such offices shall be conducted on a partisan basis, and candidates in any such primary or election shall be listed on the ballot according to party affiliation. Any person who is a registered voter of Richmond County shall be eligible to vote in any election under this section."

SECTION 2.

The governing authority of Augusta-Richmond County shall, through its legal counsel, cause this Act to be submitted for preclearance under the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended; and such submission shall be made to the United States Department of Justice or filed with the appropriate court no later than 45 days after the date on which this Act is approved by the Governor or otherwise becomes law without such approval.

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.