HB 1406: Elections; publication of calls of election on newspaper and government websites; provide

Under current Georgia election law, when a special election or special primary is called, the official clock starts running on the date that call is first published in a newspaper of appropriate circulation. This bill changes O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2 so that the clock can instead start on the date the call is first posted on the website of the relevant county, municipality, consolidated government, or school system, or on the Secretary of State's website for a statewide special election or primary. The bill also adds a new definition of 'newspaper' to the same code section, defining it as a publication of general circulation in the relevant area or one available on a public website, whether free or paid. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not list a delayed effective date, so it would take effect under Georgia's standard rules once signed.

• Amends the legal definition of 'call' or 'the call' for special elections and special primaries in O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2.
• Allows the official date of a call to be set by website posting instead of only newspaper publication.
• Lets counties, municipalities, consolidated governments, and school systems use their own websites for this purpose.
• Lets the Secretary of State use the state website for statewide special elections or primaries.
• Adds a new definition of 'newspaper' that includes a publication available on a public website, free or for a fee.
• Removes the existing requirement that the newspaper be one 'of appropriate circulation.'

County, municipal, and consolidated government election officials, local school system boards, and the Georgia Secretary of State's office, all of whom issue calls for special elections or primaries. Voters and local newspapers that currently rely on print publication for official notice are also affected.

If enacted, local governments and the state could satisfy election notice rules through a website posting rather than a newspaper print run, which could speed up or simplify how special elections are announced and change how voters and local media find out that a special election has been called.

• Section 1 revises paragraph (3) of O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2 so the date of a call can be the first newspaper publication date or the initial posting date on a government website.
• Section 1 specifies that local governments and school systems may use their own websites, while the Secretary of State's website applies to statewide special elections or primaries.
• Section 1 adds new paragraph (13.1) defining 'newspaper' to include a publication of general circulation or one available on a public website, free or for a fee.
• Section 1 removes the existing requirement that the newspaper have 'appropriate circulation.'
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the Act.

1. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Segun Adeyina (D, HD-110)Primary sponsor
• Victor Anderson (R, HD-010)
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)
• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)
• Rhonda Burnough (D, HD-077)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)

• election rules
• special elections
• government transparency
• public notices