Georgia House bill would shift Columbus mayor and council vacancies toward special elections, limiting appointments

A proposed change to how Columbus fills vacancies

Legislation introduced in the Georgia House would revise the Columbus consolidated government’s charter rules for filling vacancies in the offices of mayor and councilor, shifting most midterm openings to voter-decided special elections while limiting when the council may appoint a replacement.

The bill, House Bill 1339, updates a section of the Columbus charter dealing with “special elections” to establish timelines and decision points that depend on how close a vacancy occurs to the next general election tied to the office’s regular election cycle.

What the bill requires when a vacancy occurs

Under the bill, a vacancy “occurring for any reason” would be filled using a two-track rule:

• If a vacancy occurs more than 90 days before the date of a general election that precedes the general election when a successor would be elected for a new full term, the vacancy would be filled by a special election for the unexpired term.
• If the vacancy occurs 90 days or fewer before that general election date, the remaining council members would select a qualified person by majority vote to serve the rest of the unexpired term.

The proposal also specifies administrative requirements: the Muscogee County election superintendent would issue the call for any required special election within 30 days after the vacancy is established, and the special election would be conducted under the Georgia Election Code.

The bill maintains that anyone elected or appointed to fill a vacancy must meet the same qualifications required for election to a full term in that office.

How a mayoral vacancy would be handled

HB 1339 includes separate instructions for a vacancy in the office of mayor. It provides that the mayor pro tempore would serve as acting mayor with full powers and duties until a successor is elected and qualified.

If the mayoral vacancy occurs 90 days or fewer before the relevant general election date, the bill directs that the mayor pro tempore would succeed to the office of mayor for the remainder of the term, and the pro tempore’s council seat would then be filled under the same vacancy procedures.

Where the bill stands and what would change

HB 1339 was introduced in the 2025–2026 legislative session and has advanced to the House “Second Readers” calendar, a procedural step that typically precedes committee consideration and further action.

If enacted, the measure would formalize a default expectation that many Columbus vacancies are decided at the ballot box through special elections, with council appointments reserved for a narrower window closer to a key general election date. The bill also standardizes the deadline for calling required special elections and assigns that responsibility to the county election superintendent.

HB 1339 proposes a 90-day threshold that determines whether Columbus fills a vacancy by special election or by council appointment.