Qualifying for Offices Begins May 23

Beginning Wednesday, May 23, any candidate interested in running for a Gwinnett County elected office will be able to file paperwork and pay the necessary fees to have his or her name placed on this year’s General Primary ballot.

Gwinnett County races to be held this year include those for Gwinnett County Commission chairman, county commission Districts 1 and 3, Gwinnett Board of Education Districts 1, 3 and 5, district attorney, Probate Court judge, clerk of court, chief magistrate, several Superior and State Court judge positions, tax commissioner and sheriff.

To qualify as a Democrat or Republican, candidates must go to the appropriate party headquarters during the qualifying period, complete a form and pay the specified qualifying fee.

The party will then provide that information to Gwinnett County, according to Gwinnett County Elections Supervisor Lynn Ledford.

Ledford said the Elections Office will then verify that the candidates live in the appropriate district and are eligible to seek the specified office. That process will be particularly important this year due to the recent redistricting, Ledford explained.

Party qualifying will be held at the following locations:

Democratic Party
1599 Rocky Trail Lane
Dacula, GA 30019
770-316-6090

Republican Party
46 South Clayton Street
Lawrenceville, GA 30019
770-925-8683

Nonpartisan Candidates
Gwinnett County Board of Registrations and Elections
455 Grayson Highway, Suite 200
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
678-226-7210

The Gwinnett County Elections office lists the qualifying fees as follows:

• Chair, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners - $1,500
• Board of Commissioners (Districts 1 and 3) - $894
• Board of Education (Districts 1, 3, and 5) - $496
• Clerk of Superior Court - $3,282.78
• Judge, State Court - $4,801.19
• Judge of Probate - $3,282.78
• Chief Magistrate - $3,282.78
• Tax Commissioner - $3,282.78
• Sheriff - $3,421.21

The primary will be held July 31. The general election will take place Nov. 6.

Candidates who wish to qualify for the Georgia General Assembly or for
Congressional Office can contact the Secretary of State’s Election Division at
404-656-2871 or visit the website at www.sos.state.ga.gov for qualifying fees and information regarding the qualifying procedures and locations for those positions.

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