Bill Text: GA HB302 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Elections; certain 2012 elections and qualifying; adjust dates

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 5-1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-07-01 - Effective Date [HB302 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB302-Introduced.html

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11 LC 28 5548/AP

House Bill 302 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)

By: Representatives Sheldon of the 105th, Lindsey of the 54th, Yates of the 73rd, Bryant of the 160th, and Collins of the 27th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to adjust the dates for certain elections to be held in 2012 and the dates for qualifying for such elections; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, is amended by revising paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Code Section 21-2-150, relating to the date of the general primary, as follows:

"(2) For general primaries held in the even-numbered year immediately following the official release of the United States decennial census data to the states for the purpose of redistricting of the legislatures and the United States House of Representatives, the general primary shall be conducted on the next-to-last last Tuesday in August July."

SECTION 2.

Said chapter is further amended by revising subsections (c) and (f) of Code Section 21-2-153, relating to qualification of candidates for party nomination in a state or county primary, as follows:

"(c)(1) In the case of a general state or county primary, the candidates or their agents shall commence qualifying at 9:00 A.M. on the fourth Monday in April immediately prior to the state or county primary and shall cease qualifying at 12:00 Noon on the Friday following the fourth Monday in April, notwithstanding the fact that any such days may be legal holidays; provided, however, that, in the case of a general primary held in the even-numbered year immediately following the official release of the United States decennial census data to the states for the purpose of redistricting of the legislatures and the United States House of Representatives, the candidates or their agents for political party nomination to county offices shall commence qualifying at 9:00 A.M. on the third Wednesday in June immediately following the third Monday in May immediately prior to such primary and shall cease qualifying at 12:00 Noon on the Friday immediately following the third Wednesday in June immediately following the third Monday in May, notwithstanding the fact that any such days may be legal holidays, and provided, further, that candidates for political party nomination to federal and state offices in a general primary shall commence qualifying at 9:00 A.M. on the third Wednesday in June immediately following the third Monday in May immediately prior to such primary and shall cease qualifying at 12:00 Noon on the Friday immediately following the third Wednesday in June immediately following the third Monday in May, notwithstanding the fact that any such days may be legal holidays, and shall qualify in person or by their agents with their respective political party in the state capitol under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of State may promulgate and provided, further, that all qualifying for federal and state offices on the last day of the qualifying period shall be conducted in the chamber of the House of Representatives in the state capitol. In the case of a special primary, the candidate shall qualify no earlier than the date of the call for the special primary and no later than 25 days immediately prior to the date of such primary, and such qualifying period shall be open for a minimum of two and one-half days.

(2) If a political party has not designated at least 14 days immediately prior to the beginning of qualifying a party official in a county with whom the candidates of such party for county elective offices shall qualify, the election superintendent of the county shall qualify candidates on behalf of such party. The election superintendent shall give notice in the legal organ of the county at least three days before the beginning of qualifying giving the dates, times, and location for qualifying candidates on behalf of such political party."

"(f) Candidates for the office of presidential elector or their agents who have been nominated in accordance with the rules of a political party shall qualify beginning at 9:00 A.M. on the fourth Monday in April in the year in which a presidential election shall be held and shall cease qualifying at 12:00 Noon on the Friday immediately following the fourth Monday in April, notwithstanding the fact that any such days may be legal holidays; provided, however, that, for presidential elections held in the even-numbered year immediately following the official release of the United States decennial census data to the states for the purpose of redistricting of the legislatures and the United States House of Representatives, candidates for the office of presidential elector who have been nominated in accordance with the rules of a political party shall commence qualifying beginning at 9:00 A.M. on the third Wednesday in June immediately following the third Monday in May immediately prior to such election and shall cease qualifying at 12:00 Noon on the Friday immediately following the third Wednesday in June immediately following the third Monday in May, notwithstanding the fact that any such days may be legal holidays, and shall qualify in person or by their agents with their respective political party in the state capitol under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of State may promulgate."

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.