Qualifying Period for Local, State Election Races Begins Today

The official qualifying period for the May 21 General Primary/Nonpartisan election begins today.

The qualifying period, as set by state law, runs from today, March 4, through Thursday, March 7, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Friday, March 8 from 9 a.m. until noon.

All candidates who will be running for one of the open seats included on the ballot must complete qualifying and remit the qualifying fee for that seat.

Locally, qualifying for the Democratic Party will take place at Black Law Offices, located at 141 Savannah Street W., Suite B, in Toccoa.  

Qualifying for the Republican Party in Stephens County will take place at the offices of Bross, McAllister & Williams, LLC, located at 268 N. Broad Street in Toccoa.

Qualifying for Non-Partisan positions will take place at the Historic Courthouse, located at 37 W. Tugalo Street in Toccoa.

Stephens County Commissioners, at the Jan. 9 meeting of the Board of Commissioners, set the qualifying fees for local seats.

Partisan seats up for election, and the associated qualifying fees, are as follows:

  • Stephens County Sheriff: $2,122.59
  • Clerk of Superior Court of Stephens County: $1,778.88
  • Stephens County Tax Commissioner: $1,778.88
  • Stephens County Coroner: $1,035.00
  • State Court Solicitor for Stephens County: $1,004.67
  • Stephens County County Commissioner Post 2: $360.00
  • Stephens County Commissioner Post 3: $360.00
  • Stephens County School Board D1 Post 1: $36.00
  • Stephens County School Board D3 Post 1: $36.00
  • Stephens County School Board At Large: $36.00

Non-partisan seats up for election, and the associated qualifying fees, are as follows:

  • Stephens County Magistrate Court Judge: $1,123.76
  • Stephens County Probate Court Judge: $1,778.88

 

Stephens County-relevant Federal and State Offices Up for Re-Election in 2024

Two Year Term Offices 

State Senators (All 56 Districts) – Term ends 01/13/2025 

State Representatives (All 180 Districts) Term ends 01/13/2025 

U.S. Representatives (All 14 Districts) Term ends 12/31/2024 

 

Six Year Term Offices 

Judges – Court of Appeals (Terms expire 12/31/2024)

  • Presiding Judge Stephen Louis A. Dillard
  • Chief Judge Amanda H. Mercier
  • Judge Kenneth B. Hodges III
  • Presiding Judge M. Yvette Miller
  • Judge Brian M. Rickman
  • Judge Benjamin A. Land
  • Judge Jeffrey A. Watkins

Judges – Supreme Court     (Terms expire 12/31/2024)

  • Justice Michael P. Boggs
  • Justice John J. Ellington
  • Justice Andrew A. Pinson
  • Justice Nels S.D. Peterson

Four Year Term Offices

Mountain Circuit Superior Court Judges (Terms expire 12/31/2024) (Stephens, Rabun, Habersham)

  • Chan Caudell
  • William Ray Oliver

Northern Circuit Superior Court Judges (Terms expire 12/31/2024) (Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Madison, and Oglethorpe)

  • Harvey Wasserman
  • Jeffery S. Malcom
  • Chris Phelps

Piedmont Circuit Superior Court Judges (Terms expire 12/31/2024) (Banks, Barrow, Jackson)

  • Nicholas Primm
  • Joseph Booth
  • Currie Mingledorff, II

Mountain Circuit Superior Court District Attorney George R. Christian III (Terms expire 12/31/2024) (Stephens, Rabun, Habersham)

Northern Circuit Superior Court District Attorney Parks White (Terms expire 12/31/2024) (Franklin, Hart, Elbert, Madison, and Oglethorpe) 

Piedmont Circuit Superior Court District Attorney Brad Smith  (Terms expire 12/31/2024) (Banks, Barrow, Jackson)

 

FEDERAL AND STATE CANDIDATE QUALIFYING FEE SCHEDULE

United States Representative $5,220.00

State Senate $400.00

State House of Representatives $400.00

Judge of Supreme Court $5,583.36

Judge of Court of Appeals $5,549.70

Judge of Superior Court $4,073.71

District Attorney $3,884.19

 

Federal and State Candidate Qualifying Locations

Democratic Party 206 Washington Street, Atlanta, GA 30334 State Capitol Building, Room 230

Republican Party 206 Washington Street, Atlanta, GA 30334 State Capitol Building, Room 216

Nonpartisan Office Candidates

Elections Division Plaza Level 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE Atlanta, GA 30334, or

Professional Licensing Board 237 Coliseum Drive Macon, GA 31217, or

South Georgia Office 238 East Second Street Tifton, GA 31794

For more information about qualifying, visit sos.ga.gov/candidate-qualifying-elected-office.