Secretary Kemp Announces the Close of Qualifying for the Special Elections in State Senate District 26 and State House District 139

ATLANTA—Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced today the close of candidate qualifying for the special elections to fill the vacancies in State Senate District 26 and State House District 139.

The election for State Senate District 26 will occur in Twiggs County and portions of Bibb, Houston and Wilkinson Counties. The election for State House District 139 will occur in a portion of Bibb County.

The elections are non-partisan special elections with no party primaries. However, each candidate’s party affiliation, if any, will be listed on the ballots. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. Run-off elections, if needed, will be held Tuesday, August 16, 2011.

The following candidates qualified for State Senate District 26 and will be placed on the ballot:

Bobby Gale                                                                 Party Affiliation: Republican
109 Bear Camp Road
Irwinton, GA 31042

David E. Lucas, Sr.                                                     Party Affiliation: Democrat
2594 Saratoga Drive
Macon, GA 31211

Miriam L. Paris                                                           Party Affiliation: Democrat
2665 Suwanee Avenue
Macon, GA 31204

The following candidates qualified for State House District 139 and will be placed on the ballot:
      
James Beverly                                                             Party Affiliation: Democrat
1469 Chestnut Street
Macon, GA 31201

Anissa M. Jones                                                          Party Affiliation: Democrat
639 Short Street
Macon, GA 31217

Citizens must be registered to vote by Monday, June 20, 2011 to participate in the July 19, 2011 special elections. Voter registration forms can be obtained at any county registrar’s office or from the Secretary of State’s website: www.sos.ga.gov/elections.

Voters can request an absentee ballot from their county registrar’s office through the close of business on Friday, July 15, 2011. Absentee ballots must be returned to the county registrar’s office by the close of polls on Election Day. To download an absentee ballot request form, please visit: www.sos.ga.gov/elections.

Registered voters can visit the Secretary of State’s MVP website to view a sample ballot specific to that voter for upcoming elections, find their Election Day polling location and early voting locations in their county, check their registration status, track the status of their absentee ballot, and more. The MVP website can be accessed at: http://www.sos.ga.gov/mvp.

Brian Kemp has been Secretary of State since 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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