Overview

• The unanimous ruling overturns a lower-court order that halted the vote in October 2024 days before Election Day after hundreds had already cast early ballots.
• The referendum targets a McIntosh County ordinance that doubled the maximum house size allowed in Hogg Hummock on Sapelo Island.
• Justice John Ellington wrote that nothing in Georgia’s zoning provision limits a county electorate’s authority to repeal a zoning ordinance.
• Residents and supporters submitted a petition with more than 2,300 registered-voter signatures to put the repeal question on the ballot.
• McIntosh County’s attorney said commissioners are disappointed but will respect the decision as officials move to resume referendum procedures.