Baldwin County commissioners on Jan. 2 conducted a random drawing to assign initial term lengths for members of the newly created Baldwin County Board of Elections and Registration, a process required by House Bill 1095.

County Attorney Palmer explained the procedure to commissioners, saying, "Sure. So this agenda item is pursuant to House Bill 10 95 that was enacted creating the Baldwin County Board of Elections and Registration. Pursuant to that bill, it provides by no later than Jan. 5, 2025, the chairperson of the commissioner shall assign the name of each board member talking about the current board of registrars a random number and then shall draw such numbers at random." The county clerk had preassigned numbers 1 through 5 to the current registrars before the draw.

Beau, the Baldwin County clerk, announced the seat assignments and carried out the drawing. He listed the current board members and their assigned numbers: "Seat 1 is assigned to Ferlando Jones. Seat 2 is assigned to Natalie Fields. Seat 3 assigned to Randall Morrow. Seat 4, assigned to Tony Fraley. And seat 5 assigned to Glenda Brown." The clerk then read the draw results: "Draw number 1 was for Natalie Fields for 4 year term. Draw 2 was for Philando Jones for 4 year term. Draw 3 was for Tony Fraley for a 6 year term. Draw 4 was for Randall Morrow for 6 year term and draw 5 was for Glenda Brown for 6 year term."

Under the statutory procedure, the first two numbers drawn receive the initial four-year terms and the remaining three drawn receive six-year terms. Commissioners said they would include the draw and follow-up resolution confirming the appointments in the minutes and on the Tuesday agenda for formal confirmation.

No votes overturning the draw were recorded during the meeting. The draw and the county attorney's explanation were the formal steps the board took at this session to implement the assignment requirement of House Bill 1095.

The county clerk's assignment of numbers and the drawing fulfill the statute's deadline; the county will formalize the appointments by resolution at the board's next meeting.