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What are the statutory timelines for holding a special election after a U.S. House seat becomes vacant in Georgia?
Executive summary
Georgia law requires a measurable minimum interval between the official “call” for a special election and the date the election is held: at least 29 days must intervene between the call and the holding of the special election (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-540(b)), according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s election calendar [1]. Recent special-election notices from the Secretary of State show officials scheduling special elections (for state legislative and PSC vacancies) on dates that respect that statutory minimum while also coordinating qualifying periods, absentee windows, and—when required—special primaries and runoffs [2] [3] [4].
1. Georgia’s baseline statutory timeline: the 29‑day minimum
The Georgia Elections Calendar explicitly notes the statutory requirement that “at least 29 days shall intervene between the call of a special election and the holding of same,” citing O.C.G.A. § 21‑2‑540(b) [1]. That is the primary, state-level timing constraint you will see applied when the Secretary of State issues a call for a special election.
2. How the Secretary of State applies the rule in practice
Practically, the Secretary of State issues a “call” notice and then sets a date that meets the 29‑day floor while slotting other deadlines around it: qualifying periods for candidates, advance in‑person absentee voting windows, and voter registration cutoffs. Examples include calls for House District and Public Service Commission special elections where the Secretary announced dates and then specified qualifying dates and the start of advance voting [2] [3].
3. Special primaries and runoffs add more timing layers
For offices where a primary is required (or the Secretary chooses to schedule one), additional statutory timelines govern when a special primary and possible primary runoff occur. The Secretary’s calls for Public Service Commission special elections show a special primary was scheduled well ahead of the November general special election (a special primary on June 17, 2025, preceding a November 4 special election, with a July 15 runoff date if needed), illustrating that primaries extend the overall calendar beyond the 29‑day minimum for the general special election [3].
4. Candidate qualifying, absentee voting, and registration deadlines
Secretary of State notices include concrete administrative deadlines tied to the call: candidate qualifying windows (with dates and locations listed), the start of advance in‑person absentee voting, and the last day to register to vote for that special election. For example, the House District 106 call set qualifying in mid‑September and an advance voting start in mid‑October for a November 4 special election, and the PSC calls specified dates for qualifying fees and voter registration cutoffs [2] [3].
5. Runoff scheduling and local variations
Georgia’s election law and county election offices publish additional calendars for runoffs and local special elections; these can shift specific local deadlines and produce runoff dates weeks after the primary/general special election (county calendars and Secretary of State guidance show runoff scheduling and canvass timing tied to the initial special election dates) [5] [1]. County notices (e.g., Fulton, Columbia, Cobb) align with the state call but also list local logistics and possible runoff dates [6] [7] [5].
6. What this means for a vacant U.S. House seat in Georgia
Available sources show the 29‑day minimum between call and special election and illustrate how the Secretary of State schedules qualifying and absentee voting around that floor [1] [2] [3]. However, the provided materials do not contain a specific, step‑by‑step statutory schedule unique to U.S. House vacancies (for example, whether different notice windows or federal‑state coordination rules apply in every congressional vacancy). The sources do show how state practice applies to state legislative and statewide vacancies but do not explicitly address a congressional vacancy timeline beyond the general 29‑day rule [1] [2] [3].
7. Competing perspectives and implicit agendas
State-issued calendars and Secretary of State calls are administrative and present timelines as legal compliance; they reflect the Secretary’s interest in predictable scheduling and ballot administration [1] [3]. Media coverage (e.g., Fox5) highlights political implications—low turnout in off‑year specials and partisan stakes for regulatory bodies—showing how scheduling can have electoral consequences that political actors weigh when claiming advantage or criticizing timing [8]. County election pages emphasize voter access logistics, reflecting local election administrators’ operational priorities [6] [5].
8. Limitations and next steps if you need a definitive answer
These sources establish the 29‑day statutory minimum and show how the Secretary of State schedules qualifying, absentee voting, and primaries/runoffs around that minimum [1] [2] [3]. They do not provide a single consolidated statute‑by‑statute timeline for every element of a congressional vacancy in Georgia—so for an authoritative, legally exhaustive timetable specific to a U.S. House vacancy you would need to consult O.C.G.A. § 21‑2 (full text) and any Secretary of State guidance specific to congressional vacancies; that specific statutory text is not included in the provided sources (not found in current reporting).