Secretary Handel Sets Dates for Qualifying for the Special Elections in Senate District 22 and House District 122

Atlanta—Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel announced today receipt of Governor Sonny Perdue’s Writ of Election setting Tuesday, January 5, 2010 as the date for the Special Elections to fill the unexpired terms of State Senator Ed Tarver (SD 22) and State Rep. Hardie Davis, Jr. (HD 122).

Secretary Handel set candidate qualifying for Wednesday, December 2, 2009 through Friday, December 4, 2009. Qualifying on Wednesday will run from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.; on Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.; and on Friday 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 for each office.

The election for Senate District 22 will occur in a portion of Richmond County. The election for House District 122 will occur in a portion of Richmond County. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

The elections are non-partisan special elections with no party primary. However, each candidate’s party affiliation, if any, will be listed on the ballot. A run-off election, if needed, will be held Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

Voters can request an absentee ballot from the Richmond County Board of Elections office through the close of business on Thursday, December 31, 2009. Absentee ballots must be returned to the Richmond County Board of Elections office 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 Friday, December 4, 2009 to participate in the January 5, 2010 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.