Qualifying for eight local elected offices ended Friday, with four incumbents running again and six new candidates putting their names on the Primary ballot.

Those who qualified for non-partisan races are incumbent Keith Lyle for Board of Education, District 2, Mike Conder for Board of Education, District 4, Marvin Van Thomas for Board of Education, District 6 and Eric Worthington for Board of Education, District 6.

Those who qualified for County Commission are incumbent George Anderson (D, District 1), incumbent Thomas R. “Rusty” Davis (D, District 4), incumbent Pete Stephens (D, District 6), James Jim” Meredith (R, District 1) and Oliver Sellers (R, District 6).

Incumbent Benjamin Harrell (D) has qualified for Solicitor General.

Wayne Thomas qualified for District Supervisor of Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. His race will not be on the ballot until Nov. 6 with a runoff scheduled for Dec. 4, if necessary.

The Primary election for all these races except for the district supervisor of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission will be held on Tuesday, May 22, and any necessary runoffs will be July 24. The election for the district supervisor of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission will be the Nov. 6th General Election and if necessary, the runoff will be Dec. 4.

The deadline to register to vote or to change your residency is Monday, April 23.

Advance voting begins a week later, April 30.

For voters who would like to receive an Absentee Ballot, applications are available now and you may request one at any time between now and the election. Please be sure to mark which ballot you would like, for example a Democratic or a Republican ballot.

Furthermore, a relative request an absentee ballot be mailed to you on your behalf, such as a parent if you are out of town at college.

If you are 65 years old or older, disabled, a member of the U.S. armed forces, U.S. Merchant Marines, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, spouse or dependent residing with or accompanying said member, or a U.S. citizen residing overseas, you may request an absentee ballot and get on the “rollover” list, which will entitle you to receive an absentee ballot for each subsequent election this year.

For more information about an absentee ballot, please go to the Decatur County Elections Office webpage at http://www.decaturcountyga.gov/departments-agencies/elections-office/ If you would like an application sent to you or if you have any questions about the elections, qualifying, please call the Elections Office at (229) 243-2087.