Election Qualifying Begins Wednesday

Despite the appearance of some candidates’ signs across the county, election season in Paulding officially gets under way Wednesday at 9 a.m. That’s when qualifying for local offices will begin.

Leaders of both the local Republican and Democratic parties will be on hand at the to qualify those seeking to run in their respective primaries. Candidates wishing to run as a nonpartisan also will visit the elections office to qualify during the same time period, unlike in previous elections where nonpartisan qualifying was held later in the election cycle.

Qualifying ends Friday at noon. Those intent on running may first want to fill out the declaration of candidacy and affidavit, which is attached to this article. It can be filled out in advance but must be signed at the elections office in front of a notary public.

Also attached for potential politicians is the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission form, which candidates must submit to comply with ethics regulations.

Local offices up for grabs include sheriff, probate court judge, superior court clerk, tax commissioner, county commission chairman, one county commission seat, chief magistrate, coroner, surveyor and five school board seats. Qualifying fees for local offices range from $10 for surveyor to $2,850 for county commission chairman; a list of qualifying fees is attached.

The county commission seat on the ballot is that of Post 1, which has seen its boundary lines change in recent months due to redistricting. Maps of the old and new commission lines are attached to this article.

“It’s changing drastically because of the way of how our population changed from the 2000 Census to the 2010 Census,” said Deidre Holden, supervisor of Paulding County Elections & Voter Registration. “I believe we were at 82,000—we are now at 142,000, so our commission district lines were way out of deviation. That’s why they had to be redrawn. Now, they are within a 1- to 2-percent deviation.”

Also affected by redistricting is the race for the school board. Seats up for election are Districts 1, 3, 4, 6 and the at-large seat. Redistricting changed the boundaries of those districts, which will impact potential candidates since they must qualify for the district in which they reside; voters, however, will see all the districts on their ballot since board members are voted on at large.

Those seeking state office will qualify with the Secretary of State.

Paulding voters this year will be responsible for filling six seats in the Georgia General Assembly. Two of those seats are in the State Senate—Districts 30 and 31. Seats in House Districts 17 and 19 also will be up for contesting, while Districts 66 and 67 will be decided with the help of some Paulding voters for the first time this year; reapportionment led to the county gaining those two seats.

Dallas-Hiram Patch will bring you updates throughout the week on those who have qualified for office. You can keep up with our election updates by subscribing to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. We also have that can bring you news, our business listings, weather forecasts and more.

Following this week’s qualifying period, the next important date to most voters will be July 2—the deadline to qualify to vote in the primary election.

Paulding voters will get to take advantage of early voting at the elections office weekdays from July 9 and through July 27.

Saturday voting will be offered at the same location July 21. It will be the second time Paulding voters have gotten such an opportunity—this year’s presidential preference primary election was the first.

“For a presidential preference primary, the turnout was very low on that Saturday. I’d say we had maybe 60 people vote,” Holden said. “I think you’ll see a better turnout for the general primary.”

Advance voting will open up at three satellite offices the week of July 23. The primary election day is July 31.

Those unsure if they are registered voters or where they are to vote can visit the My Voter Page on the Secretary of State’s website.