---
title: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-50.1. Postponement and extension of qualifying periods for elections for public office during state of emergency; limitation.
collection: code
id: 21-2-50.1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 21-2-50.1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-50.1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-50.1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/21-2-50.1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t21-(v18)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=868a5c43_0#page=98
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: ELECTIONS / ELECTIONS AND PRIMARIES GENERALLY / SUPERVISORY BOARDS AND OFFICERS / SECRETARY OF STATE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 21-2-50.1. Postponement and extension of qualifying periods for elections for public office during state of emergency; limitation.

In the event the Governor declares that a state of emergency or disaster exists pursuant to Code Section 38-3-51 or a federal agency declares that a state of emergency or disaster exists, the Secretary of State is authorized to postpone or extend the qualifying periods provided in this chapter for the qualification of candidates seeking municipal, county, or state-wide office and to postpone the date of any primary, special primary, election, or special election in the affected area. The Secretary of State shall exercise the powers granted by this Code section carefully, and any such postponement or extension shall not exceed 45 days.

## History

Code 1981, § 21-2-50.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2001, p. 230, § 3; Ga. L. 2002, p. 574, § 1.

## Cross References

Emergency powers of Governor generally, §§ 38-3-22, 38-3-51, and 45-12-29.

## Law Reviews

For note on the 2001 enactment of this Code section, see 18 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 114 (2001).

For article, “Elections: Elections and Primaries Through the Pandemic,” see 37 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 241 (2020).