Notwithstanding any other provision of law:

1. (A)

   1. (1) Effective March 15, 1994, there is established the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Jasper County to be composed of nine members appointed to office by the Governor; four of the members must be appointed upon the recommendation of the senator representing the county and the remaining five members must be appointed upon the recommendation of the legislative delegation from the county. The term of office for the members of the board is two years commencing on the fifteenth day of March in each even-numbered year. In case of a vacancy from any cause on the board, the vacancy must be filled in the same manner of original appointment, as provided in this section, for the unexpired term. The members of the board by majority vote shall elect the board's chairman, and the chairman shall serve a term of two years and may be re-elected to that office for any number of successive terms without limitation.
   2. (2) The Governor shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the appointments made under item (1).
   3. (3) The Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Jasper County shall notify the State Election Commission in writing of the name of the person elected as chairman of the board under item (1).
   4. (4) Except as otherwise specifically provided in items (1), (2), and (3), the provisions of law contained in Title 7 relating to county boards of voter registration and county election commissions apply to the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Jasper County, mutatis mutandis.

2. (B)

   1. (1) The Jasper County Board of Voter Registration is abolished effective March 15, 1994, and its functions, duties, and powers are devolved upon the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Jasper County as established under subsection (A).
   2. (2) The Jasper County Election Commission is abolished effective March 15, 1994, and its functions, duties, and powers are devolved upon the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Jasper County as established under subsection (A).

3. (C)

   1. (1) The terms of the members of the Jasper County Board of Voter Registration, regardless of when these members were appointed to office or when their current terms would otherwise have expired, expire for all purposes upon the abolishment of that board as provided under subsection (B)(1).
   2. (2) The terms of the members of the Jasper County Election Commission, regardless of when these members were appointed to office or when their current terms would otherwise have expired, expire for all purposes upon abolishment of that commission as provided under subsection (B)(2).
   3. (3) Notwithstanding items (1) and (2) of this subsection or any other provision of this section, a person serving as a member of the Jasper County Board of Voter Registration or the Jasper County Election Commission may not be removed from office, nor shall that board and that commission be abolished, until this section has been given final approval by the United States Department of Justice.

HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 312, Section 1, eff upon approval (became law without the Governor's signature on June 12, 2008).