A special election to fill a DeKalb County Commission seat covering the eastern half the county won't be held until November, according to a unanimous vote Monday by the county Board of Registration and Election.
Elections officials said it would be too difficult to hold the DeKalb District 7 special election at the same time as the May 24 primary.
About 500 additional election workers would have had to be quickly hired and trained within weeks.
In addition, voters would have had to fill out two ballots — one for the primary election and one for the special election — at in each of 100 precincts, according to state law covering this type of election. Elections Board Chairman Samuel Tillman said he was concerned voters wouldn’t realize they could participate in both elections.
The vacancy was created when Commissioner Stan Watson resigned to run for tax commissioner May 11.
His super district, which covers about 350,000 residents, will remain unrepresented until the Nov. 8 election.
In the meantime, the DeKalb Commission will function with six members, setting up the conditions for split votes on key issues.
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