(a) The judge of the superior court in each county or the senior judge in time of service in those counties having more than one judge shall appoint quadrennially, upon the recommendation of the grand jury of such county, not less than three nor more than five judicious, intelligent, and upright electors of such county as county registrars. The grand jury shall submit to the judge the names of ten such electors and the appointment shall be made therefrom and shall be entered on the minutes of the court. When making such appointments, the judge will designate one of the registrars as chief registrar who shall serve as such during such registrar's term of office, and such designation shall likewise be entered on the minutes of the court. It shall be the duty of the clerk of the superior court to certify the appointments and designation to the Secretary of State within 30 days after the appointments and designation, and commissions shall be issued as for county officers. When certifying such names to the Secretary of State, the clerk of the superior court shall also list the addresses of the registrars. Such judge will have the right to remove one or more of such registrars at any time for cause after notice and hearing. In case of the death, resignation, or removal of a registrar, the judge shall appoint a successor who shall serve until the next grand jury convenes, at which time the grand jury shall submit to the judge the names of two judicious, intelligent, and upright electors of such county; and the judge shall make an appointment from said list, such successor to serve the unexpired term of such registrar's predecessor in office. In the event the grand jury is in session at the time of any such death, removal, or resignation, such grand jury shall immediately submit the names of said electors to the judge for such appointment. Each such appointment or change in designation shall be entered on the minutes of the court and certified as provided in this Code section.

(b) Appointees under this article shall serve for a term of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified, except in the event of resignation or removal as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section. Their terms shall commence on July 1 and expire on June 30 four years thereafter. The first new grand jury which convenes in each county in the year 1965, and each four years thereafter, shall submit to the judge the list of names as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section. Such list shall be submitted to the judge, who shall appoint the registrars and designate the chief registrar prior to June 30. No appointment for a full term shall be made prior to January 1 of the year in which the appointee is to take office. If no such grand jury is convened or, if convened but failed to recommend, the judge shall appoint the registrars without the necessity of any recommendation. In the event that a registrar holds over beyond the end of the registrar's term of office due to the failure to have a successor timely appointed and qualified, the successor shall be appointed to serve the remainder of the term of office and shall not receive a new four-year term of office.

(c) The governing authority of each municipality shall appoint registrars as necessary, and the appointments shall be entered on the minutes of the governing authority. The governing authority shall designate one of the registrars as chief registrar. The chief registrar will serve as such during such registrar's term of office, and such designation shall likewise be entered on the minutes of the governing authority. Such registrars shall serve at the pleasure of the governing authority, and compensation of the registrars shall be fixed by the governing authority. Any registrar shall have the right to resign at any time by submitting a resignation to such governing authority. In the event of any such removal or resignation of a registrar, such registrar's duties and authority as such shall terminate instantly. Successors to resigned registrars shall be appointed by the governing authority. Each appointment or change in designation shall be entered on the minutes of the governing authority and certified by the governing authority. The governing authority may furnish such employees and facilities as it deems necessary for the operation of the office and the affairs of the registrars.

(d) The chief registrar shall be the chief administrative officer of the board of registrars and shall generally supervise and direct the administration of the affairs of the board of registrars. The chief registrar shall act as chairperson of the board of registrars and, as chief registrar, shall perform those functions normally devolving upon the chairperson. The board of registrars shall meet each month on a day selected by the chief registrar to transact the business of the board. The board shall also meet at other times as needed upon the call of the chief registrar or upon the request of two or more of the registrars. The chief registrar shall be compensated in an amount of not less than $61.00 per day for each day of service on the business of the board of registrars. The other registrars shall be compensated in an amount of not less than $48.00 per day for each day of service on the business of the board of registrars. In lieu of the per diem compensation provided for in this subsection, the chief registrar may be compensated in an amount not less than $272.00 per month and the other registrars in an amount not less than $242.00 per month. The per diem or monthly compensation, as the case may be, shall be fixed, subject to the limitations provided for in this subsection, by the governing authority of each county and shall be paid from county funds. The compensation of other officers and employees appointed and employed under this article shall be fixed by the board of registrars with the approval of the governing authority of each county and shall be paid from county funds.

(e) Any other provision of this Code section to the contrary notwithstanding, in any county of this state having a population of more than 600,000 according to the United States decennial census of 1990 or any future such census, the governing authority of the county shall appoint the county registrars in lieu of the judge of the superior court. The appointments shall be entered on the minutes of the governing authority. The governing authority shall designate one of the registrars as chief registrar, who shall serve as such during such registrar's term of office. Such designation shall likewise be entered on the minutes of the governing authority. It shall be the duty of the governing authority to certify the appointments and designation to the Secretary of State within 30 days after such appointments and designation. In certifying such names to the Secretary of State, the governing authority shall also list the addresses of the registrars. Such registrars shall serve at the pleasure of the governing authority of the county, and the compensation of the registrars shall be fixed by the governing authority of the county. Any registrar shall have the right to resign at any time by submitting a resignation to the governing authority. In the event of the death, resignation, or removal of any registrar, such registrar's duties and authority as such shall terminate instantly. Successors shall be appointed by the governing authority. Each appointment or change in designation shall be entered on the minutes of the governing authority and certified as provided in this Code section. The first appointments in any such county under this article shall be made in the year 1965, and the persons appointed shall assume office July 1, 1965. The governing authorities of such counties may furnish such employees and facilities as they deem necessary for the operation of the office and affairs of the registrars.

(f) The board of registrars of each county shall prepare annually a budget estimate in which it shall set forth an itemized list of its expenditures for the preceding two years and an itemized estimate of the amount of money necessary to be appropriated for the ensuing year and shall submit the same at the time and in the manner and form other county budget estimates are required to be filed.