Six Georgia State Senators have introduced SB 184, which says that all federal, state and county offices in Georgia should be partisan offices. The bill would allow counties that currently have non-partisan school board elections and judicial elections to retain non-partisan elections, but would require a popular vote in each such county to determine whether these elections should also become partisan.

The biggest impact on minor parties, apparently, is that special U.S. House and special legislative elections would be changed. Currently, in Georgia special elections for those offices, all candidates file; all are permitted to choose any party label; all candidates run on the same ballot. The special election then elects someone, with a run-off if no one get at least 50%. The bill is not explicit about special congressional and legislative elections.

Most counties in Georgia already have partisan elections for some county offices. The bill would have no impact on city elections. The bill has been introduced by these Senators: Joshua McKoon (R-Columbus), Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga), Butch Miller (R-Gainesville), Curt Thompson (D-Tucker), William Ligon (R-Brunswick), and Charlie Bethel (R-Dalton). Thanks to Jeff Sexton for this news.