Roberts resigns from Elections in face of House Bills

JASPER, Ga. – Election Supervisor Julianne Roberts has formally tendered her resignation to Pickens County and has left the elections office closed this week.

The Elections and Voter Registration office closed due to this resignation as well as, according to other reports, a second employee out for medical leave. While it has been stated that a meeting will be held soon to deal with the situation, no formal details are available at this time.

According to her resignation letter, Roberts stated that her resignation was “due to HB 682 and HB 683 that State Representative Rick Jasperse submitted.”

HB 682 is listed in the legislation, found on Georgia General Assembly website, with the summary, “A BILL to be entitled an Act to reconstitute and reestablish the board of elections and registration for Pickens County, Georgia; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.”

HB 683 is listed in the legislation, found on Georgia General Assembly website, with the summary, “A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create a board of elections and registration for Pickens County and provide for its powers and duties approved April 13, 2001 (Ga. L. 2001, p. 3598), as amended, so as to provide for abolition of the board on a date certain; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.”

With these resetting the Elections Board in the county, Roberts said she was turning her key into Commission Chairman Kris Stancil. FYN reached out to Stancil today to ask what the county will do to re-open the voter registration office and for a comment on Roberts resignation and is currently awaiting a response.

Roberts said in her letter that she had enjoyed her 25 years of service through Cobb, Cherokee, and Pickens counties and was “fortunate to serve under wonderful Board Members over the years that truly love the community.”