A court order has delayed the new city of Griffin District 6 runoff election between Rodney McCord and Shaheer Beyah from its original Feb. 16 date to March 16.

Spalding County Election Supervisor Terry Colling said Clerk of Spalding County Superior Court Marcia Norris told her the election date had been moved. Norris later faxed her a formal court order on the subject.

This order was e-mailed to The Griffin Daily News. The order, which moves the election to March 16, is dated Jan. 12 and was signed by Judge Thomas Wilson, who ruled that many of the absentee ballots that elected Beyah were invalid and called for a new election.

“I filed a motion for that to happen,” said Wayne Kendall, McCord’s attorney.

He said the statute requires that the election be held on the third Tuesday of March.

“Special elections have to be held on certain dates and (this) year’s date was March 16,” he said.

Beyah himself had little to say. He said he would prefer that the election be held somewhat sooner but recognizes this might not be legally possible.