GA SB457

All congressional, state, and county elections in Georgia would be required to be conducted on a partisan basis effective January 1, 2013, overriding any local Acts to the contrary.

County judicial offices, local school board offices, and consolidated government offices that had local Acts in effect as of June 30, 2012, allowing nonpartisan elections could continue as nonpartisan only by passing a referendum during the November 2012 general election.

Each applicable jurisdiction's governing authority (county, school board, or consolidated government) must pass a resolution and deliver it to the county election superintendent at least 90 days before the November 2012 general election to authorize the referendum.

If a majority of voters do not vote against partisan elections, or if there is a tie, or if the referendum is not conducted, the local Act authorizing nonpartisan elections is automatically repealed by operation of law on January 1, 2013, defaulting those offices to partisan elections.

Municipalities retain the ability to conduct nonpartisan elections and may still prohibit political parties from conducting primaries for municipal elections through their charters or ordinances.