Secretary of State Kemp Sets Qualifying Dates for the Special Elections in State Senate District 50, State House District 25 and State House District 10

Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp today announced receipt of Governor Nathan Deal’s Writ of Election setting Tuesday, November 8, 2011 as the date for the special elections to fill the vacancies in State Senate District 50, State House District 25 and State House District 10.

Secretary Kemp set candidate qualifying for Monday, October 3, 2011 through Wednesday, October 5, 2011. Qualifying on Monday will run from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.; on Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.; and on Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Candidates will qualify in the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State, 802 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, SE, Atlanta, Georgia 30334. The qualifying fee is $400.

The election for State Senate District 50 will occur in Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Rabun, Stephens and Towns Counties and a portion of White County. The election for State House District 25 will occur in a portion of Hall County. The election for State House District 10 will occur in Habersham County and a portion of White 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 ballot. Run-off elections, if needed, will be held Tuesday, December 6, 2011.

Voters can request an absentee ballot from their county registrar’s office through the close of business on Friday, November 4, 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.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2011.

Citizens must be registered to vote by Tuesday, October 11, 2011 to participate in the November 8, 2011 special election. Voter registration forms can be obtained at any county registrar’s office or from the Secretary of State’s website: sos.ga.gov/elections.

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.