Qualifying Set For State House, Senate Races

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp has scheduled qualifying for candidates to formally enter the state House District 21 and Senate District 21 races. 

Qualifying will begin Monday Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday Dec. 11 and from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday Dec. 12. 

Qualifying will take place at the Elections Division of the Office of Secretary of State, 802 West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive Southeast in Atlanta. The fee to qualify for both seats is $400. 

Polls for the race will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 8, 2013, and voters who wish to cast ballots in the special election must register by the close of business day on Tuesday Dec. 11. 

All persons who are not registered to vote and who desire to vote in the special election must register to vote before the end of the business day on Tuesday, December 11, 2012. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.

A run-off election, if needed, is also scheduled for Tuesday Feb. 5, 2013. 

So far, Holly Springs resident Scot Turner has announced his intentions to run for the state house seat, which is currently held by State Rep. Sean Jerguson.

Jerguson on Wednesday declared his candidacy for the senate seat, which has been vacated by former Senator Chip Rogers after he resigned on Tuesday. Jerguson has to formally resign his house seat before he can qualify for the senate race. 

The only challenger to enter the senate race against Jerguson is Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brandon Beach of Alpharetta, who announced his plans to run for the seat late Wednesday evening.