Special election to fill 10th District seat set for June 19

A special election to fill the 10th Congressional District seat left vacant by the passing of Charlie Norwood has been set for Tuesday, June 19.

Norwood served in the House of Representatives from 1997 until his death on February 13, 2007, due to complications from an eight-year battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Throughout three rounds of redistricting, he continued to represent Lincoln County in Washington.

Secretary of State Karen Handel received the writ of election from Governor Sonny Perdue on Thursday, February 22.

After discussions with the governor and considering the impact on the affected counties, Secretary Handel indicated that she will set the qualifying period following the current session of the Georgia General Assembly. This enables any legislator who is considering a run for the Congressional seat to serve out the session. It likewise sets a timeline for one election to fill the Congressional seat and any seats in the General Assembly that may become vacant.

"Waiting until the close of the session will allow the counties to consolidate the elections for the Congressional seat and any General Assembly vacancies," said Secretary Handel. "This means less cost to the taxpayers. It should also help with voter turnout."

In other items of information, Handel said she will announce the dates of the qualifying period for the Congressional election immediately following the close of the legislative session. This process includes issuing a "call" to the citizens of the affected counties to establish the election and qualifying dates.

The call will be published in major newspapers with significant circulation, including The Augusta Chronicle, as well as various weekly newspapers in the district. The announcement is scheduled to run several days prior to the start of the twoand a-half-day qualifying period.

The last day to register to vote in the Special Election is May 21.