ATLANTA—Secretary of State Karen Handel closed qualifying for state Senate District 24 today at noon. Four candidates qualified and paid the qualifying fee of $400 for the special election to be held on Tuesday, June 19. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a run-off election will be held Tuesday, July 17.

The following candidates qualified and will be placed on the ballot in alphabetical order:

Lee Benedict 4380 Ridge Valley Dr. Augusta, GA 30909	Party Affiliation: Republican
William (Bill) Jackson 2863 Dozier Rd. Appling, GA 30802	Party Affiliation: Republican
Brett McGuire 6150 Washington Rd. Appling, GA 30802	Party Affiliation: Republican
Scott C. Nichols 3 Plantation Hills Dr. Evans, GA 30809	Party Affiliation: Democrat

A fifth person, Barbara McLendon, qualified earlier this week, but today filed a notarized affidavit withdrawing her candidacy, citing that she has since learned that she does not actually live in the 24^th state Senate District.

The election will be held in the following counties: Columbia, Glascock, Lincoln, McDuffie, and Wilkes, as well as portions of Elbert and Warren.

The election is a non-partisan special election with no party primary.  However, each candidate’s party affiliation will be listed on the ballot.

Georgia election law provides that people can still qualify as write-in candidates. The last day a person will be able to file a Notice of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate is Thursday, May 17.  Those desiring to seek office as a write-in candidate will have to publish notice of their write-in candidacy in their local paper no later than May 17.  A write in candidate must also file a copy of the published notice along with an affidavit of the date and name of the publication no later than May 22 with the Secretary of State’s office. Write-in candidates do not pay a qualifying fee as their names are not printed on the ballot unless they receive enough votes to be in a runoff election.

All citizens residing in state Senate District 24 who wish to vote in the special election can register to vote through May 21. Voter registration forms can be obtained at http://www.sos.state.ga.us/elections/voter_registration/voter_reg_app.htm. Polls will be open from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2007.