Courts; nonpartisan election of magistrates; provide

Georgia judges elected without party labels

Beginning July 1, 2025, Georgia bars local laws that authorize partisan elections for chief magistrates or other magistrates. County voters elect chief magistrates without party labels for four-year terms, before the current term ends. Terms begin January 1 after election. Other magistrates remain appointed unless local law provides for elections every four years. Appointments require the chief magistrate's selection and superior court judges' consent; appointed terms run alongside the chief magistrate's term. The law places superior court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court candidates on the nonpartisan ballot. Covered magistrate and probate judge contests also use that ballot, where applicable. These elections take place alongside the general primary in even-numbered years. Candidates cannot use party nominations, political-body petitions, or independent nomination routes; existing qualification rules and fees still apply. Local laws can authorize nonpartisan elections for county judicial offices, elected school boards, and elected consolidated-government offices. Existing local nonpartisan contests follow the statewide rules and replace separate nonpartisan primaries with one election alongside the general primary. Consolidated-government contests count as county elections; municipal elections remain governed by municipal charters. Section 4 takes effect January 1, 2027, only if voters approve the constitutional amendment requiring nonpartisan probate judge elections. Without that approval, the entire act is automatically repealed. If the approved amendment conflicts with the act, the stronger nonpartisan requirement controls. The law does not directly change household taxes, benefits, or costs.