Secretary Handel Sets Dates for Qualifying for the Special Elections in Senate District 1 and House District 159

Atlanta—Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel announced today receipt of Governor Sonny Perdue’s Writ of Election setting Tuesday, November 3, 2009 as the date for the Special Elections to fill the unexpired terms of State Senator Eric Johnson (SD 1) and State Rep. Buddy Carter (HD 159).

Secretary Handel set candidate qualifying for Monday, September 21 through Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Qualifying on Monday will run from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.; on Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.; and on Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Candidates will qualify in the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State, 1104 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, SE, Atlanta, Georgia 30334-1505. The qualifying fee is $400.

The election for Senate District 1 will occur in Bryan County and portions of Chatham and Liberty Counties. The election for House District 159 will occur in portions of Chatham and Effingham Counties. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2009.

The elections are non-partisan special elections with no party primary.  However, each candidate’s party affiliation will be listed on the ballot. A run-off election, if needed, will be held Tuesday, December 1.

Voters can request an absentee ballot from their county registrar’s office through the close of business on Friday, October 30, 2009. Absentee ballots must be returned to the county registrar by the close of polls on Election Day. Photo identification is not required when voting by mail. To download an absentee ballot request form, please visit: www.sos.ga.gov/elections.

Citizens must be registered to vote by Monday, October 5, 2009 to participate in the November 3, 2009 election. Voter registration forms can be obtained at any county registrar’s office or from the Secretary of State’s website: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/voter_registration/voter_reg_app.htm.

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. 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 and the Capitol Museum.