Overview

The Secretary of State is Georgia’s “chief election official.” O.C.G.A. § 21-2-50(b). Historically, the Secretary of State has been a central figure in Georgia elections, but recent, reactive legislation by the Georgia General Assembly has sought to reduce the Secretary’s involvement in the electoral processes, and removed the Secretary of State from the State Election Board altogether. See Jeff Amy, “Ga. Sen. Vote for Brd.”; see also FOX 5 Atlanta, “Increasing Efforts to Oust Ga. SoS.” The 2024 general election will be the first presidential election to incorporate the changes enacted in response to the outcome of the 2020 general election.

Election-Related Duties

The key duties of the Secretary of State are:

1. Conducting annual training sessions for Registrars and Election Superintendents. O.C.G.A. § 21-2-50(a)(11).
2. Issuing guidance and directives to County Election Superintendents. See O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-50(a)(11), (12).
3. Certifying that the Election Superintendent and at least one Registrar of a county has attended a minimum of 12 hours’ training annually. In some cases this is a designee of the county Board of Elections, if it fills the role of both Election Superintendent and Registrar. *O.C.G.A. § 21-2-101(a); Interview with a Paulding Cnty. official* (Oct. 18, 2022).
4. Canvassing, tabulating, and certifying election results statewide. O.C.G.A. § 21-2-499.
5. Certifying statewide races and sending the slate of Presidential Electors to the Governor. O.C.G.A. §§ 21-2-499(b), -497(a)(4)(A), -497(a)(4)(D).
6. Ordering a recount by electronic tabulation when the victory margin falls within a statutory threshold. O.C.G.A. § 21-2-495(c). For more information about recounts, see Recounts.

Selection and Vacancy Information

• Elected: The Secretary of State is elected ****statewide at the same time as the Governor. Ga. Const. Art. V, § III, Para. I. They are an ex officio, non-voting member of the State Election Board. O.C.G.A. § 21-2-30(d).
• Term of Office: The Secretary of State serves a four-year term that coincide with the Governor’s term of office. Ga. Const. Art. V, § III, Para. I.
• Next Election: The next election will be in 2026.
• Qualifications/Restrictions:
  • In order to be eligible to assume the office of the Secretary of State, an individual must have been a citizen of the United States for 10 years, a legal resident of Georgia for the four years immediately preceding the election, and be at least 25 years old by the time the office is assumed. Ga. Const. Art. V, § III, Para. II(a).
  • The Secretary of State may not serve in “any fiduciary capacity for the campaign of any candidate whose election will be certified by the Secretary of State,” except for his or her own campaign. O.C.G.A. § 21-2-50(b).
• Vacancy: The Governor appoints an individual (subject to Senate confirmation) to fill the vacancy until the next general election. If the next general election does not coincide with a normal gubernatorial election, the individual elected will serve out the “balance of the unexpired term.” Ga. Const. Art. V, § II, Para. VIII(b).