The qualifying period for candidates wishing to run for seats in the upcoming special election is March 29-31.

Qualifying fees are $5,220 for the state offices. The seats in the special election for North Georgia include the 9th congressional district recently held by Nathan Deal in the U.S. House and the legislative seats held by state Sen. Lee Hawkins and Rep. Tom Graves.

Times for qualifying are Monday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to noon.

Gov. Sonny Perdue is pushing back the date for a special election in North Georgia to May 11.

All three elections had been set for April 27.

Chairman for the Board of Elections Shea Hicks said she is hoping for at least a 30 percent turnout in Gordon County.

“Of course, with someone local running, there might be more,” she said, referring to Graves.

The date change for qualifying occurred because the secretary of state’s office was concerned there was not enough time to get ballots returned from military members stationed overseas according to Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley on Wednesday.

Deal left Congress to pursue the Republican nomination for governor. Hawkins and Graves resigned to run for Deal’s seat.

In addition to Graves and Hawkins, eight other Republicans, two Democrats and one independent have already announced plans to run for Deal’s seat.

The cost of the election will be about $12,000 for Gordon County, to operate the voting machines during early/absentee voting, advance voting, and to open seven of the 10 precincts on election day.

The last day to register to vote is April 2. Absentee/early voting will start April 12 and advance voting will be May 3 through May 7. Both will be held at the Office of the Voter Registration in the Court House Annex.

In case of a run-off, which Hicks expects, an election will be held on May 25.

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Precincts open:

Resaca

Pine Chapel

Oakman

Ranger

Fairmount

Sonoraville

Red Bud

a portion of the 849A (Belmont)

Lily Pond

Plainville