Qualifying reopens for Macon-Bibb elections | Elections | Macon.com

Two new candidates seeking a role in the new Macon-Bibb County consolidated government qualified to run for office Monday, the first day of the reopened qualifying period for the Sept. 17 nonpartisan special election.

Al Tillman, a former president of the local chapter of the NAACP, qualified Monday morning to run for the District 9 commission seat. Tillman, who serves on the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission, will face Macon City Council President James Timley, who qualified previously.

Meanwhile, local activist Anthony Harris was accepted as a certified write-in candidate in the mayor’s race. Bibb County Elections Supervisor Jeanetta Watson said Harris will have his name posted at every polling station, but his name won’t be listed on the ballot.

To qualify as a write-in, Harris needed to take out an ad in The Telegraph and fill out paperwork. He wasn’t required to pay the $3,000 qualifying fee for the mayor’s race.

Reopening the qualifying became necessary when the election was pushed to Sept. 17, meaning all candidates had to submit their paperwork once more.

The original election date, July 16, wasn’t tenable after the U.S. Department of Justice failed to decide about preclearance for the special election under the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

However, a decision last month by the U.S. Supreme Court made it unnecessary to get preclearance, thus clearing the way for the election.

via Qualifying reopens for Macon-Bibb elections | Elections | Macon.com.