Write-in Candidates Required to Qualify Before General Election

This came from Gwinnett, but the info is applicable across the state of Georgia:

Gwinnett County Voter Registration and Elections wants to inform voters about write-in candidate requirements before they head to the polls tomorrow. Gwinnett Elections Director Lynn Ledford said, “There is a misconception that votes for any write-in candidate will be tabulated. However, Georgia has laws in place that govern ballot access, including ballot access by write-in candidates.”

Only qualified write-in candidates can have their votes counted. In order to be qualified, a candidate must send a notice to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office according to the deadlines set for that particular office. A candidate must also run a legal ad in a newspaper and provide a publisher’s affidavit within five days after the deadline for filing.

“Voters should also remember to vote at their polls on Tuesday and if they have an absentee ballot, to turn it in by 7 p.m. to the Election’s main office located at 455 Grayson Highway, Suite 200, Lawrenceville in order to have their ballot counted,” Ledford added. “Additionally, by Georgia law, voters may only turn in their own ballots or ballots of disabled relatives.”

For more information, visit www.gwinnettcounty.com. Election results will be available on this website and on TVgwinnett on election night as soon as they are available.