Any Georgian seeking public office has until midday Friday to file necessary paperwork and pay registration fees if their name is to appear on the July 31 primary ballot.
Secretary of State Brian Kemp has declared that 9 a.m. May 23 is the earliest day for a political party or non-partisan candidate to file a Declaration of Candidacy to have their name placed on the ballot.
"John [Campbell, custodian of elections] will have a list of candidates posted on our website, www.catoosa.com/depts/elections, that afternoon," county election official Tonya Moore said in reference to the May 25 deadline.
Political party candidates are those whose names will appear on either the Democrat or Republican primary ballot.
If only one candidate applies for the party primary, by default their name will appear on the general election ballot in November. If more than one candidate qualifies for offices on the party's primary ballot, the winner of the July 31 election will advance to the general election.
If there is no clear-cut winner during the primary, run-off elections will be held on Aug. 21 to determine which candidate will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Non-partisan elections statewide are those for judges who will serve on the State Supreme Court or the State Court of Appeals.
In Catoosa County, only school board elections are non-partisan.
The voter registration deadline for the July 31 primary election is Monday, July 2.