GA SB573

County officers and district attorneys in "medical examiner counties" (counties that appoint a medical examiner instead of electing a coroner) would be elected in nonpartisan elections rather than partisan elections.

Exemptions from the nonpartisan requirement include county sheriff, local school board offices, and county governing authority offices established by local constitutional amendment.

District attorney candidates in judicial circuits comprised solely of a medical examiner county must qualify with the Secretary of State using the same process as judicial candidates.

Nonpartisan elections for these offices would be held in conjunction with the general primary in even-numbered years, without a prior nonpartisan primary.

Effective date is January 1, 2027, and any existing local laws providing for partisan election of these county offices would be repealed.