25 LC 47 3127
Senate Bill 14
By: Senators Setzler of the 37th, Dixon of the 45th, Albers of the 56th, Still of the 48th and
Kirkpatrick of the 32nd
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
primaries and elections generally, so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide for the2
nonpartisan election of district attorneys and solicitors-general of state courts; to provide for3
the qualifying of such offices; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and4
for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and8
elections generally, is amended by revising paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of Code9
Section 21-2-132, relating to filing notice of candidacy, nomination petition, and affidavit,10
reopening qualifying period, payment of qualifying fee, and pauper's affidavit and qualifying11
petition for exemption from qualifying fee, as follows:12
"(1) Each candidate for the office of district attorney when a local Act has been enacted
13
for the filling of such office in a nonpartisan election and each candidate for the office of14
judge of the superior court, Judge of the Court of Appeals, or Justice of the Supreme15
Court, or the candidate's agent, desiring to have his or her name placed on the nonpartisan16
S. B. 14
- 1 - 25 LC 47 3127
election ballot shall file a notice of candidacy, giving his or her name, residence address,
17
and the office sought, in the office of the Secretary of State no earlier than 9:00 A.M. on18
the Monday of the eleventh week immediately prior to the election and no later19
than 12:00 Noon on the Friday immediately following such Monday, notwithstanding the20
fact that any such days may be legal holidays;21
(2) Each candidate for solicitor-general of a state court,
a county judicial office, a local22
board of education office, or an office of a consolidated government, or the candidate's23
agent, desiring to have his or her name placed on the nonpartisan election ballot shall file24
notice of candidacy in the office of the superintendent no earlier than 9:00 A.M. on the25
Monday of the eleventh week immediately prior to the election and no later than 12:0026
Noon on the Friday immediately following such Monday, notwithstanding the fact that27
any such days may be legal holidays;"28
SECTION 2.29
Said chapter is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 21-2-139, relating30
to nonpartisan elections authorized and conduct, as follows:31
"(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, the General32
Assembly may provide by local Act for the election in nonpartisan elections of candidates33
to fill the office of district attorney, the office of solicitor-general of the state court, county34
judicial offices, offices of local boards of education, and offices of consolidated35
governments which are filled by the vote of the electors of said such judicial circuit,36
county, or political subdivision. Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, the37
procedures to be employed in such nonpartisan elections shall conform as nearly as38
practicable to the procedures governing nonpartisan elections as provided in this chapter. 39
Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, the election procedures established by40
any existing local law which provides for the nonpartisan election of candidates to fill41
county offices shall conform to the general procedures governing nonpartisan elections as42
S. B. 14
- 2 - 25 LC 47 3127
provided in this chapter, and such nonpartisan elections shall be conducted in accordance
43
with the applicable provisions of this chapter, notwithstanding the provisions of any44
existing local law. For those offices for which the General Assembly, pursuant to this45
Code section, provided by local Act for election in nonpartisan primaries and elections,46
such offices shall no longer require nonpartisan primaries. Such officers shall be elected47
in nonpartisan elections held and conducted in conjunction with the general primary in48
even-numbered years in accordance with this chapter without a prior nonpartisan primary. 49
This Code section shall apply to all nonpartisan elections for members of consolidated50
governments. All nonpartisan elections for members of consolidated governments shall51
be governed by the provisions of this Code section and shall be considered county elections52
and not municipal elections for the purposes of this Code section. Nonpartisan elections53
for municipal offices shall be conducted on the dates provided in the municipal charter."54
SECTION 3.55
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.56
S. B. 14
- 3 -