Title 21 — Elections
5 chapters · 451 sections in this title.
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-1 Short title
0.1K chars
This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as the “Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Act.”
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-10 Chapter as continuation of laws; effect of enactment
0.6K chars
The provisions of this chapter, so far as they are the same as those of existing laws, are intended as a continuation of such laws and not as new enactments. The repeal by this chapter of any Act of the General Assembly, or part thereof, shall not revive any Act, or part thereof,…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-11 Acceptance by public officers of monetary fees or honoraria
0.8K chars
(a) No public officer other than a public officer elected state wide shall accept a monetary fee or honorarium in excess of $100.00 for a speaking engagement, participation in a seminar, discussion panel, or other activity which directly relates to the official duties of that pub…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-12 Connected organizations
0.2K chars
(a) The name of each political action committee shall include the name of its connected organization. (b) The name of any separate segregated fund, as defined in Code Section 21-5-40, shall include the name of its connected organization.
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-13 Limitation of actions
1.7K chars
(a) Any action alleging a violation of this chapter shall be commenced within three years after the date on which the violation, wrongful action, or omission occurred, unless otherwise provided by subsections (b) or (c) of this Code section. (b) Any action alleging a violation in…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-14 Email address reporting requirements; exceptions
0.6K chars
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, each individual required by this chapter to file a report or disclosure statement with the commission shall provide the commission, in writing, with a current email address and shall advise the commission, in writing,…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-15 Notice to local officials regarding certain actions to be given by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery
0.4K chars
When the commission gives notice to a local official referred to in subparagraph (F) or (G) of paragraph (22) of Code Section 21-5-3 of any of the actions listed in this Code section, such notice shall be given by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery. This Code section …
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-16 Soliciting the organization of political events on school property
0.8K chars
No candidate, campaign committee, or political action committee shall solicit any individual under the age of 18 years to fraudulently organize an event on the property of any local school system when the purpose of such event is influencing the nomination for election or electio…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-2 Declaration of policy
1.5K chars
It is declared to be the policy of this state, in furtherance of its responsibility to protect the integrity of the democratic process and to ensure fair elections for constitutional offices; state offices; district attorneys; members of the Georgia House of Representatives and G…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-3 Definitions
23.5K chars
(1) As used in this chapter, the term:(1) “Business entity” means any corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, professional corporation, enterprise, franchise, association, trust, joint venture, …
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-4 State Ethics Commission; membership; officers; quorum; meetings
3.5K chars
(a) The State Ethics Commission shall be a successor to the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, with such duties and powers as are set forth in this chapter. As the successor commission, it shall have all the powers and duties granted to the Georgia G…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-5 Operating expenses
0.4K chars
The funds necessary to carry out this chapter shall come from the funds appropriated to and available to the commission and from any other available funds. The commission shall be a budget unit as defined in Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 12 of Title 45, the “Budget Act”; provide…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-6 Powers and duties of the commission
35.5K chars
(a) The commission is vested with the following powers:(1) To meet at such times and places as it may deem necessary;(2) To contract with other agencies, public or private, or persons as it deems necessary for the rendering and affording of such services, facilities, studies, and…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-7 Initiation of complaints
1.1K chars
(a) The commission shall not initiate any investigation or inquiry into any matter under its jurisdiction based upon the complaint of any person, including a staff attorney employed by the commission, unless that person or staff attorney shall produce the same in writing and veri…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-7.1 Technical defects in filings; procedures for determination or correction of defects; failure to correct
5.5K chars
(1) The commission shall adopt rules which shall provide that:(1) Upon the commission’s receipt of a complaint, a determination shall be made as to whether the complaint relates to a technical defect in a filing. For this purpose, a technical defect shall include, but not be limi…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-8 Venue
0.2K chars
Venue for prosecution of civil violations of this chapter or for any other action by or on behalf of the commission shall be in the county of the residence of the candidate or public officer at the time of the alleged violation or action.
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-9 Penalties
0.3K chars
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any person who knowingly fails to comply with or who knowingly violates this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The provisions of this Code section shall not preclude prosecution and punishment for the commission of any felony …
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-9.1 Prerequisite to seeking election or reelection to General Assembly
0.3K chars
No person who has served or is serving as a member of the General Assembly shall be eligible to qualify to seek election or reelection to the General Assembly until and unless all fines and fees owing to the commission have been paid, all disclosure reports due have been filed, a…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-30 Contributions made to candidate or campaign committee or for recall of a public officer
8.7K chars
(a) Except as provided in subsection (e) of Code Section 21-5-34, no contributions to bring about the nomination or election of a candidate for any office shall be made or accepted except directly to or by a candidate or such candidate’s campaign committee which is organized for …
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-30.1 Contributions by regulated entities to elected executive officers or candidates
8.0K chars
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the definitions set forth in Code Section 21-5-3 shall be applicable to the provisions of this Code section. As used in this Code section, the term:(1) “Campaign committee” means the candidate, person, or committee which accept…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-30.2 Contributions by public agencies
6.6K chars
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the definitions set forth in Code Section 21-5-3 shall be applicable to the provisions of this Code section. As used in this Code section, the term:(1) “Agency” means:(A) Every state department, agency, board, bureau, commissio…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-31 [Reserved] Contributions or expenditures other than through candidate or committee; disclosure of extensions of credit
0.4K chars
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-31Current through Act 375 of the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly but not including corrections and changes made by the Office of Legislative Counsel.HistoryGa. L. 1986, p. 957, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1431, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 603, § 2; Ga. L. 1989, p. …
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-32 Accounts to be kept by candidate or campaign committee treasurer
2.7K chars
(a) The candidate or treasurer of each campaign committee shall keep detailed accounts, current within not more than five business days after the date of receiving a contribution or making an expenditure, of all contributions received and all expenditures made by or on behalf of …
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-33 Disposition of contributions
12.2K chars
(a) Contributions to a candidate, a campaign committee, or a public officer holding elective office and any proceeds from investing such contributions shall be utilized only to defray ordinary and necessary expenses, which may include any loan of money from a candidate or public …
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-34 Campaign contribution disclosure reports; committee registration
61.8K chars
(a) (1) (A) The candidate or the chairperson or treasurer of each campaign committee organized to bring about the nomination or election of a candidate for any office and the chairperson or treasurer of every campaign committee designed to bring about the recall of a public offic…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-34.1 Filing campaign contribution disclosure reports electronically
1.1K chars
(a) Candidates, candidate committees, and public officers who are required to file campaign contribution disclosure reports with the commission shall use electronic means to file such reports with the commission using means prescribed by the commission to file such reports. (b) T…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-34.2 Leadership committee defined; operation; separate from campaign committees
2.9K chars
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “leadership committee” means a committee, corporation, or organization chaired by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the nominee of a political party for Governor selected in a primary election in the year in which he or she is nomin…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-35 Acceptance of contributions or pledges during legislative sessions
1.9K chars
(a) No member of the General Assembly or that member’s campaign committee or public officer elected state wide or campaign committee of such public officer shall seek or accept a contribution or a pledge of a contribution to the member, the member’s campaign committee, or public …
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-36 Disposition of reports; handling of complaints and violations
2.0K chars
(a) (1) It shall be the duty of the commission to make the campaign contribution disclosure reports available for public inspection and copying during regular office hours commencing as soon as practicable after such reports are filed. The commission shall have the authority to c…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-40 Definitions
3.5K chars
(1) As used in this article, the term:(1) “Affiliated committees” means any two or more political committees (including a separate segregated fund) established, financed, maintained, or controlled by the same business entity, labor organization, person, or group of persons, inclu…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-41 Maximum allowable contributions
5.5K chars
(a) No person, corporation, political committee, or political party shall make, and no candidate or campaign committee shall receive from any such entity, contributions to any candidate for state-wide elected office which in the aggregate for an election cycle exceed:(1) Five tho…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-42 Contribution to campaign committee deemed contribution to candidate; rules for construction
2.9K chars
(1) For purposes of this article, a contribution to a campaign committee of a candidate for any public office shall be deemed to be a contribution to such candidate. If during any calendar year there occur both a special election including a special primary, special primary runof…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-43 Accounting for and expenditure of campaign contributions
5.5K chars
(a) (1) A candidate or campaign committee may separately account for contributions for each election in an election cycle for which contributions are accepted. If no contributions are accepted for an election, no corresponding accounting shall be required. Subject to the contribu…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-43.1 [Repealed] Maximum allowable contribution by political parties
0.4K chars
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-43.1Current through Act 375 of the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly but not including corrections and changes made by the Office of Legislative Counsel.HistoryCode 1981, § 21-5-43.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 1075, § 11; Ga. L. 1994, p. 258, § 11; rep…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-44 [Redesignated] Contribution to campaign committee deemed contribution to candidate; rules for construction
0.2K chars
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-44Current through Act 375 of the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly but not including corrections and changes made by the Office of Legislative Counsel.Official Code of Georgia Annotated
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-45 [Repealed] Limitations on contributions apply separately to each election
0.4K chars
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-45Current through Act 375 of the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly but not including corrections and changes made by the Office of Legislative Counsel.HistoryCode 1981, Code Section 21-5-45, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 922, § 6; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1075, § 1…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-50 Filing of financial disclosure statements by public officers, candidates for public office, elected officials, and members of the General Assembly; electronic filing
44.7K chars
(a) (1) Except as modified in subsection (c) of this Code section with respect to candidates for state-wide elected public office:(A) Each public officer, as defined in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (22) of Code Section 21-5-3, and each person who qualifies as a cand…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-51 Inspection and copying of financial disclosure statements; redaction of identifiable home addresses
0.5K chars
(a) Financial disclosure statements filed pursuant to this article shall be public records and shall be subject to inspection and copying by any member of the public as provided by law for other public records. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Code section or any provis…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-52 [Repealed] Filing by mail
0.4K chars
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-52Current through Act 375 of the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly but not including corrections and changes made by the Office of Legislative Counsel.HistoryCode 1981, § 21-5-52, enacted by Ga. L. 1986, p. 957, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 297, § 16; Ga. L. 20…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-53 [Repealed] Public record
0.4K chars
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-53Current through Act 375 of the 2026 Regular Session of the General Assembly but not including corrections and changes made by the Office of Legislative Counsel.HistoryCode 1981, § 21-5-53, enacted by Ga. L. 1986, p. 957, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 297, § 17; Ga. L. 19…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-70 Definitions
24.0K chars
(1) As used in this article, the term:(1) “Expenditure”:(A) Means a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or conveyance of money or anything of value made for the purpose of influencing the actions of any public officer, specifically including any such transact…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-71 Registration required; application for registration; supplemental registration; expiration; docket; fees; identification cards; public rosters; exemptions
23.0K chars
(a) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection and except as otherwise provided by subsection (i) of this Code section, no person shall engage in lobbying as defined by this article unless such person is registered with the commission as a lobbyist. The commission shall not …
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-72 Denial, suspension, or revocation of registration; reinstatement
1.8K chars
(a) In addition to other penalties provided in this article, the commission may by order deny, suspend, or revoke for a period not to exceed one year the registration of a lobbyist if it finds that the lobbyist:(1) Has filed an application for registration with the commission whi…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-72.1 Regulation of certain contact between lobbyists and members of the General Assembly; making or acceptance of certain expenditures
1.1K chars
(a) No person who is required by the law of this state to register as a lobbyist shall meet at the state capitol, Coverdell Legislative Office Building, or other state government facility with any member of the General Assembly to discuss the promotion or opposition of the passag…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-73 Disclosure reports
11.7K chars
(a) Each lobbyist registered under this article shall file disclosure reports as provided for in this Code section in the electronic format specified by the commission. (b) A person who is required to register under this article and:(1) Lobbies to promote or oppose the passage of…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-74 Postemployment restrictions on lobbyists
0.4K chars
A lobbyist shall not be eligible for executive appointment to any board, authority, commission, or bureau created and established by the laws of this state which regulates the activities of a business, firm, corporation, or agency that the lobbyist represented until one year afte…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-75 Postemployment restrictions on public officers
0.6K chars
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, on and after January 8, 2007, persons identified in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (22) of Code Section 21-5-3 and the executive director of each state board, commission, or authority shall be prohibited f…
O.C.G.A. § 21-5-76 Contingent fees for lobbying prohibited; unauthorized persons on the floor while the General Assembly is in session
0.9K chars
(a) No person, firm, corporation, or association shall retain or employ a lobbyist for compensation contingent, in whole or in part, upon the passage or defeat of any legislative measure, upon the adoption or decision not to adopt any state agency rule or regulation, or upon the …