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Chattahoochee County sets 2026 qualifying fees, schedules March qualifying window
Summary
The Chattahoochee County Board of Commissioners set qualifying fees for county offices and established March 2–6, 2026, as the qualifying period; the measure passed unanimously and the county clerk was directed to publish the fees under state law.
The Chattahoochee County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Jan. 26 to set qualifying fees for the 2026 local elections and establish the qualifying period.
Chairman Charles Coffey read the fees in a called meeting: the qualifying fee for county commissioner was set at $362 and the fee for county Board of Education members at $72. Commissioners adopted the schedule that opens qualifying at 9 a.m. Monday, March 2, and closes at noon Friday, March 6. The motion to adopt the fees was made by Commissioner Jason Frost and seconded by Commissioner Timothy Biddle.
Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-131), counties must fix and publish qualifying fees by Feb. 1 in years when a primary or general election is scheduled; the board directed County Clerk Lisa Bickel to publish the fees to meet that requirement. The board recorded the action in a formal resolution adopted at the Jan. 26 session.
The action was procedural: commissioners said the step ensures compliance with state timelines and gives prospective candidates a clear filing window and fee schedule. The qualifying dates and fees will appear in the Feb. 3 meeting minutes and in the publication required by statute.
Next steps: the county clerk will publish the qualifying fee list in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-131, and county staff will implement administrative steps for accepting filings during the March qualifying period.
