Secretary of State Kemp Releases Important Information for Candidate Qualifying Next Week

ATLANTA – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced today that qualifying for the July 31, 2012 elections will begin at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 and end at 12:00 Noon on Friday, May 25, 2012.  The State Elections Division will conduct qualifying of candidates for nonpartisan state offices at its main location in Atlanta and at its South Georgia office in Tifton.  Individuals who wish to qualify with a party for state offices may do so with the political parties during the qualifying period at the State Capitol.  Qualifying for nonpartisan local offices will be held by the elections superintendent or, in the case of partisan local offices, by either the elections superintendent or the respective political party.  Please contact the county elections superintendent of each respective county for information on local qualifying locations and times. 

The elections of July 31, 2012 include general nonpartisan elections, party primaries and local elections.  Nonpartisan state offices include offices of the Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge of Court of Appeals and Judge of Superior Court.  For more information on qualifying, please visit the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.ga.gov. For additional information on political party qualifying, please contact the Georgia Republican Party at www.gagop.org, or the Democratic Party of Georgia at www.democraticpartyofgeorgia.org.

Brian Kemp was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2010. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives.