Secretary Handel Announces Information for Candidate Qualifying

Secretary of State Karen Handel today announced the following information relating to qualifying for federal and state offices to be filled in the Tuesday, November 4, 2008 General Election.

In accordance with O.C.G.A. §21-2-131, the following qualifying fees have been fixed for 2008 federal and state offices:

Office
Salary
Fee

United States Senator
$165,200.00
3%
$4,956.00

United States Representative
$165,200.00
3%
$4,956.00

Public Service Commissioner
$113,060.40
3%
$3,391.81

State Senator
$400.00

State Representative
$400.00

Justice of Supreme Court
$162,339.60
3%
$4,870.19

Judge of the Court of Appeals
$161,346.00
3%
$4,840.38

Judge of Superior Court
$116,749.57
3%
$3,502.49

District Attorney
$111,023.08
3%
$3,330.69

Qualifying fees are set by O.C.G.A. §21-2-131(a), which states that candidate qualifying fees will be 3 percent of the office’s minimum annual salary, excluding the qualifying fees for State House and State Senate which are $400.

A complete list of offices up for election can be found at: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/elections/candidate_information/2008%20office%20to%20be%20filled_3.pdf.

Qualifying will be held Monday, April 28 beginning at 9:00 a.m. through Friday, May 2, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. for Republican and Democratic candidates wishing to fill federal and state offices up for election in 2008. As outlined by Georgia law, the qualifying fee will be paid to the applicable state political party. The primary election for these candidates will be held on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.

Qualifying for independent candidates will be held Monday, June 23 beginning at 9:00 a.m. through Friday, June 27, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. in the Secretary of State’s Elections Division Office. As outlined by Georgia law, the qualifying fee will be paid to the Secretary of State. Independent candidates do not have a primary but qualify for placement on the General Election ballot.