Qualifying fees have been set by the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners, the first step in getting ready for candidates to sign up and run for office.
Commissioners set the fees at a special called meeting Jan. 14.
Local candidates will qualify for office the week of March 2. Monday through Thursday, candidates will be able to sign up from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will end at noon Friday, March 6.
“Just one week to qualify,” said Probate Judge / Election Superintendent Scott Chastain.
Offices up for election this year range from the Board of Education to the Coroner.
Posts 1, 2 and 3 for the Board of Education are up for election this year. These seats are held by Thomas Ocobock, Jim Parmer and Doug Pritchett. These are the only nonpartisan races locally.
On the Board of Commissioners, Post 1 which is held by Hubert Parker, fulfilling the term of Dallas Miller, will be on the slate.
Other offices on the ballot this year are: Magistrate Judge held by Roger Kincaid; Clerk of Superior Court held by Amy Johnson, fulfilling the term of Glenda Sue Johnson; Coroner held by Jerry Hensley; Probate Judge held by Chastain; Sheriff held by Stacy Nicholson; County Surveyor held by Jefferey Vick; and Tax Commissioner held by Becky Marshall.
The General Primary will be held May 19. Early voting will begin April 27. The last day to register to vote is April 20.
Also on the May ballot with be a TSPLOST, short for Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
A date for runoffs is set for July 21.
A separate primary, the Presidential Preference Primary, will be held March 24 for the presidential race. Early voting begins March 2, the same day qualifying opens.
“We’ll have a lot going on that week,” Chastain said.
The last day to register to vote in the presidential primary is Feb. 24.
The general election is set for Nov. 3.
A new voting machine has been set up at the Election Register Office in the lobby area for demonstrations. Chastain said voters can go by the office Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to see how it works.
“Someone will show them how to take it for a test drive,” he said.