Bill Text: GA SB109 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Elections; adjust dates for certain elections to be held 2012; dates for qualifying for elections
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 4)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-03-22 - House Second Readers [SB109 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SB109-Engrossed.html
11 LC 28
5524
Senate
Bill 109
By:
Senators McKoon of the 29th, Williams of the 19th, Cowsert of the 46th and
Staton of the 18th
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
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
following the
third Monday in May immediately prior to
such primary and shall cease qualifying at 12:00 Noon on the Friday following
the
third
Wednesday
in
June
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
following the
third Monday in May immediately prior to
such primary and shall cease qualifying at 12:00 Noon on the Friday following
the
third
Wednesday
in
June
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 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 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 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
following the
third Monday in May immediately prior to
such election and shall cease qualifying at 12:00 Noon on the Friday following
the
third
Wednesday
in
June
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.
