Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
What are filing requirements and deadlines for candidates in Georgia special House elections?
Executive summary
Georgia’s Secretary of State issues a “call” for each special House election that sets the election date, qualifying dates and locations, voter registration deadlines, and the start of advance/absentee voting; for example, calls for recent December 9, 2025 special House elections set qualifying in early November, last day to register November 10, and advance voting beginning November 17 [1] [2] [3]. The statewide 2025 Election Calendar published by the Secretary of State compiles statutory deadlines and administrative dates that govern special elections [4].
1. How a special House election is started: the Secretary of State’s “call”
When a vacancy occurs, the Georgia Secretary of State issues an official “Call for Special Election” that announces the election date and administrative timetable. Those calls specify the date of the special general election, the dates and location for candidate qualifying at the Secretary of State’s Elections Division in Atlanta, voter registration deadlines tied to that election, and the start of advance/absentee voting (examples: House District 23, District 121) [2] [1].
2. Candidate qualifying: when and where to file
Qualifying periods are short and are published in each call. The qualifying window typically takes place at the Secretary of State’s Elections Division (2 MLK Jr. Dr., Floyd West Tower Suite 802, Atlanta) and begins at 9:00 a.m. on the stated qualifying day[5]. Recent calls listed qualifying beginning on discrete dates (e.g., November 3, 2025 for District 23; November 6, 2025 or November 3 for other calls) — candidates must appear during the published window to file [2] [1]. Local county boards sometimes set different deadlines for county or municipal special races (example: Columbia County’s municipal/special qualifying window was a multi-day local schedule) [6].
3. Voter registration and ballot access deadlines tied to the call
Each Secretary of State call lists the last day to register to vote for that special election — for the December 9, 2025 House special elections, the last registration day was Monday, November 10, 2025 [1] [2] [3]. The statewide election calendar reiterates the legal practice that statutory deadlines (like registration cutoffs) are set in relation to the election date and are specified in Title 21 of the Georgia Code; the calendar is intended to compile those dates for administrators and the public [4].
4. Advance in-person and absentee voting windows
Calls also specify when advance in-person absentee voting begins and how long vote-by-mail requests will be accepted. For several December 2025 House special elections, advance in-person absentee voting began the week of November 17, 2025, and absentee ballot applications were accepted through late November depending on county rules (examples: advance voting beginning November 17; vote-by-mail application deadlines varying by county but noted as accepted through Nov. 28 in Clarke/Oconee guidance) [1] [3] [7].
5. Runoffs and timelines if no candidate achieves a majority
Georgia law provides for runoffs in certain elections; calls or local notices indicate the date of a possible runoff and any related deadlines. For the December 9, 2025 special elections, local notices stated a potential runoff date (e.g., January 6 for one jurisdiction) and that additional deadlines related to a runoff would be published if needed [3]. The Secretary of State’s calendar and statutes referenced in it govern timing for runoffs and related notices [4].
6. Where to find the authoritative, up‑to‑date schedule
The authoritative documents are: [8] the specific “Call for Special Election” posted by the Georgia Secretary of State for each vacancy (these list qualifying times, election date, registration cutoff, and advance voting start), and [9] the Secretary of State’s Election Calendar and the state’s Election Code (Title 21) that compile recurring statutory deadlines and contingencies [2] [1] [4]. Voter-information aggregators (Vote411, U.S. Vote Foundation, Peach Vote) and county election pages also republish these dates but the SOS calls and calendar are the controlling administrative notices [10] [11] [7] [3].
7. Practical takeaways for prospective candidates
- Watch the Secretary of State’s “Call” for the district you care about — it contains the qualifying date/time/location and the precise deadlines you must meet [2] [1].
- Expect a short qualifying window and early filing requirements; local county boards may run some municipal or county special filings on different schedules [6].
- Track voter registration cutoffs and the advance/absentee voting start date from the call so your campaign’s get-out-the-vote and absentee outreach align with official timelines [1] [3].
Limitations and caveat: The sources provided are a set of specific 2025 calls, county notices and the state calendar; available sources do not mention other potential filing requirements such as qualifying fees, detailed signature/nomination petition rules, or campaign finance filing dates for special elections — those items may be in separate SOS guidance, local ordinances, or state statutes not included in the current set (not found in current reporting).