We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Congressman Charles Whitlow "Charlie" Norwood (Republican, Georgia CD 10) who passed away 13 February 2007 at the age of 65. He was first elected in 1994. On 7 February 2007, having decided to forgo further treatment for lung cancer that has spread to his liver, Congressman Norwood, 65, announced that he is leaving Washington, D.C. to receive hospice care in Georgia. Congressman Norwood was diagnosed lung cancer in 2006 and then with liver cancer in December 2006. He received a lung transplant in 2004 and suffered from idopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

 
The special election is a non-partisan primary and run off election. However, each candidate’s party affiliation will be listed on the ballot.

On 22 February 2007, the Governor Sonny Perdue called for a 19 June 2007 Special Election and a 17 July Special Election Runoff, to fill this vacant seat. If no one receives 50% of the vote in the Special Election, a run off is held between the top two vote getters.

"A vacancy now exists in the United States House of Representatives due to the death of the official elected to represent Georgia’s Tenth District.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 21-2-543 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, a writ of election is hereby issued to the Secretary of State for a special election to be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2007, to fill the vacancy in Georgia’s Tenth District of the United States House of Representatives.

This 22nd day of February, 2007.
Governor Sonny Perdue"

When a vacancy occurs for a congressional seat:

The Governor has 10 days to issue a “Writ of Election.” The Writ serves as official notice of the vacancy and sets the date for the special election. The special election cannot be held sooner than 30 days from when the Writ is issued. (O.C.G.A. 21-2-543) The date for a special election for a congressional seat does not have to be set on any of the preset dates set forth in the Official Code of Georgia O.C.G.A. 21-2-540(c)(2)(b).

The election is considered to be non-partisan because there is no primary. However, party affiliation must be disclosed by each candidate upon qualification. [O.C.G.A. 21-2-540(c)(2)(e)]

The ballot will list each candidate’s name alphabetically along with their party affiliation. [O.C.G.A. 2-21-285 (e)].

If a qualifying candidate is a current municipal, county or state office holder and the term of office overlaps with the office for which they are running, the candidate must vacate that office. This means that any legislator, county commissioner, city councilperson, mayor who qualified for a congressional seat vacates his/her office upon qualifying (Article II, section II, paragraph V of the Georgia Constitution).

2007 Election Dates -- Per O.C.G.A. § 21-2-540:
March 20th (third Tuesday in March -- 5 of 20 counties are holding primaries on this date)
June 19th (third Tuesday in June -- 1 of 20 counties is holding a primary on this date)
September 18th (third Tuesday in September)
November 6th (first Tuesday after the first Monday in November)

Candidates must win by simple majority (50% plus one) vote O.C.G.A 21-2-501(a). In the event of multiple candidates (more than two) where no candidate gets the majority vote, a run-off election between the top two vote getters will be held 28 days after the special election O.C.G.A. 21-2-501(a).