How to Run for Office in Georgia
Getting on the Ballot
Georgia candidates qualify during short qualifying periods set by law - often just three to five days. Partisan candidates qualify with their political party: state offices with the state party (or at the Secretary of State's qualifying location), county offices with the county party or the county election superintendent. Nonpartisan and municipal candidates qualify with the election superintendent or municipal clerk. Independent candidates qualify by nomination petition with steep signature requirements.
Georgia's qualifying fees are high: generally 3% of the annual salary of the office sought (a fixed amount for legislators), due at qualifying. A pauper's affidavit route exists for candidates who can't pay.
Georgia requires a majority to win - general elections and primaries both go to a runoff if no candidate clears 50%, so Georgia campaigns routinely plan (and budget) for overtime.
Where Local Candidates File
County candidates deal with the county election superintendent (usually the board of elections or election supervisor); municipal candidates with the city clerk. The same local officials receive campaign finance disclosure filings for local candidates and transmit them to the State Ethics Commission.
Worth Knowing
- Before accepting a single contribution, you must file a Declaration of Intention to Accept Campaign Contributions (DOI) - Georgia's version of the register-before-you-raise rule.
- Campaign finance is regulated by the State Ethics Commission (long known as the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission - you'll see both names), a separate agency from the Secretary of State, with its own e-filing system for disclosure reports.
- A Personal Financial Disclosure is due within days of qualifying for most offices.
- Qualifying windows are short and strictly enforced - know your dates, bring the right payment, and don't wait for the last afternoon.
Official Georgia Resources
Filing deadlines, fees, and signature requirements change from cycle to cycle. Always confirm current details with the official sources below.
This page was last reviewed on August 4, 2026. Process details above are believed current as of that date; deadlines and fees should always be verified with your election office.