Jackson County voters will go to the polls multiple times this year, from the March 6 Presidential Preference Primary to a possible General Election runoff Dec. 4.
While the early attention will be on the March 6 Republican Presidential Preference Primary, local candidates will begin qualifying in May for constitutional offices where some high-profile offices are up for grabs, starting with the Republican and Democratic primaries July 31 and culminating on Nov. 6 in the General Election.
Voters must select a replacement for retiring sheriff Stan Evans, as well as for board of commissioners’ chairman Hunter Bicknell, who has announced plans to run for Congress in the newly formed 9th Congressional District.
Five candidates have already announced their intentions of running for sheriff, and a number have also expressed interest in the Congressional seat.
Other offices to be filled include those of the District 1 and District 2 seats on the board of commissioners, the Post 1 and Post 4 seats on the Jackson County Board of Education, clerk of court, tax commissioner, probate judge, state court judge, state court solicitor, county surveyor, magistrate court judge and coroner. Then there will be elections of state senators and representatives as well as the 9th District seat in the U.S. Congress.
Winners will be on the ballot Nov. 6 in the General Election, but in Jackson County local races are typically decided in the Republican Primary and primary runoff, since few candidates offer as Democrats.
During the primary on July 31, Jackson County voters will also help decide the fate of a new one-cent regional transportation tax. The so-called T-SPLOST is expected to generate close to a billion dollars in the 12-county region over 10 years and is considered by many elected officials (those dealing with roads) to be crucial to funding roads and other transportation projects.
During the General Election, voters will fill the three Superior Court judgships in the Piedmont Judicial Circuit. Those will not be on the primary ballots because they are nonpartisan positions.
The 2012 election cycle will also introduce Saturday voting. In addition to “advance” and “early” voting, the polls will be open on Saturday, Feb. 25, for the Presidential Preference Primary, Saturday, July 21 for the General Primary Election and Saturday, Oct. 27, for the General Election.
Here’s the calendar of elections for 2012:
March 6: Presidential Preference Primary and special election (if needed)
May 23-25: Qualifying period for General Primary Election
July 31: General Primary Election, T-SPLOST referendum
Aug. 21: General Primary Runoff Election
Sept. 18: Special election date (if needed)
Oct. 16: Runoff date for special election (if needed)
Nov. 6: General Election
Dec. 4: General Election Runoff (if needed)
Voter Registration Deadlines
Feb 6: Presidential Preference Primary
July 2: General Primary Elections
Aug. 20: Special election/runoff
Nov. 8: General Election
