Secretary Kemp Announces the Close of Qualifying for the Special Election in Congressional District 9

ATLANTA—Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced the close of candidate qualifying for the Special Election to fill the unexpired term in Congressional District 9 on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at noon. The candidates below qualified and paid the qualifying fee of $5,220 for the Special Election to be held Tuesday, May 11, 2010. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a run-off election will be held Tuesday, June 8, 2010.

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

The election for Congressional District 9 will occur in the following counties: Catoosa, Dade, Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Hall, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, Union, Walker, White, Whitfield, and portions of Forsyth and Gordon. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, 2010.

The following candidates qualified for Congressional District 9 and will be placed on the ballot in alphabetical order:
      
Chris Cates                                          Party Affiliation: Republican
11 Timber Grace Court
Blairsville, GA 30512

Mike Freeman                                     Party Affiliation: Democrat
5194 Glenstone Court
Gainesville, GA 30504

Tom Graves                                         Party Affiliation: Republican
475 Craig Road
Ranger, GA 30734

Lee Hawkins                                       Party Affiliation: Republican
4710 Jim Hood Road
Gainesville, GA 30506

Bert Loftman                                      Party Affiliation: Republican
8249 Cox Mountain Drive
Jasper, GA 30143

Eugene Moon                                      Party Affiliation: Independent
3407 Lake Ridge Place
Gainesville, GA 30506

Bill Stephens                                       Party Affiliation: Republican
6730 Waterbury Way
Cumming, GA 30040

Steve Tarvin                                        Party Affiliation: Republican
778 W 12th Street
Chickamauga, GA 30707                     

Voters can request an absentee ballot from their county registrar’s office through the close of business on Friday, May 7, 2010. Absentee ballots must be returned to the county registrar’s 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, April 2, 2010 to participate in the May 11, 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.

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 and the Capitol Museum.

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