Voting in top primary races will require partisan ballots

Non-party slate doesn’t include governor, state legislative contests.

Georgia voters who consider themselves independents will have to pick a political party if they want to participate in primary elections for governor, secretary of state and state legislative races.

Voters won’t be able to take part in the state’s biggest races if they ask for a nonpartisan ballot for the May 22 primary election. Republican and Democratic primary contests only appear on partisan ballots.

Georgia has open primaries, which means voters can choose either party’s ballot without having to register with that party.

Voters should review sample ballots online or at voting locations before deciding which one they want to use, said Erica Hamilton, DeKalb County’s elections director.

Many voters are accustomed to general elections in November, when all races appear on the same ballot, she said.

The only contested statewide race on nonpartisan ballots is for a judgeship on the Georgia Court of Appeals, where Ken Hodges faces Ken Shigley. Some areas have local nonpartisan races for judges, county commissioners and school board members.

Early voting for the primary election began April 30 and lasts until Friday.

The vast majority of voters have pulled partisan ballots so far, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.

Visit PoliticallyGeorgia.com for full coverage of Georgia’s key races.

PHOTOS BY REANN HUBER / REANN.HUBER@AJC.COM A woman receives an “I’m a Georgia Voter” sticker Saturday after taking part in early voting at the C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center in Atlanta. Voters who participate in the May 22 primary have to choose a partisan ballot to vote in the...

A man casts his ballot during early voting Saturday atthe C.T. Martin Natatorium. The primary is scheduled for May 22.