Georgia Petition Signature Requirements (2026)
How many signatures you need to qualify for the ballot in Georgia, the 2026 petition filing windows, and how to validate your signatures against the Georgia voter file.
Signature requirements by office
| Office | Minimum signatures | % of enrolled voters |
|---|---|---|
| Governor, Lieutenant Governor | — | 5% |
| State Senator, State Representative | — | 5% |
| U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative | — | 5% |
2026 petition deadlines
Governor, Lieutenant Governor; State Senator, State Representative; U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative
- Primary petition opens:
- January 1, 2026
- Primary petition deadline:
- March 11, 2026
- General petition opens:
- May 20, 2026
- General petition deadline:
- July 1, 2026
- Primary election:
- May 19, 2026
- General election:
- November 3, 2026
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Primary petition — signature rules
Governor/Lt. Governor: Filing fee $7,125 each. Or petition with signatures from 5% of registered voters statewide
Primary petition — deadline rules
Qualifying period typically early March. Candidates must qualify by paying filing fee or submitting petition
General petition — signature rules
Unaffiliated candidates need signatures from 5% of registered voters statewide as of January 1 of election year
General petition — deadline rules
Unaffiliated candidates must file by July. Petition circulation begins after primary
Primary petition — signature rules
Major party candidates pay filing fee. State Senate: $400; State House: $400. Or petition with signatures from 5% of registered voters in district
General petition — signature rules
Unaffiliated candidates need signatures from 5% of registered voters in district as of January 1 of election year
Primary petition — signature rules
Major party candidates pay filing fee. US House: $5,220; US Senate: $5,220. Or petition with signatures from 5% of registered voters
Frequently asked questions
How many signatures do I need to get on the ballot in Georgia?
Georgia signature requirements vary by office. Governor, Lieutenant Governor: 5% of enrolled voters; State Senator, State Representative: 5% of enrolled voters; U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative: 5% of enrolled voters. See the full table above for all offices.
What is the 2026 petition filing deadline in Georgia?
For the 2026 cycle in Georgia, the primary petition deadline is March 11, 2026, and the general petition deadline is July 1, 2026. Confirm exact dates for your office above and with your election authority.
Can I validate Georgia petition signatures myself?
Yes. Petition Validator lets you upload petition pages and automatically matches each signer against the Georgia voter file — checking registration, address, and duplicates in seconds per signature. You can start free, no paid Victory Waves account required.
How does signature validation work?
You upload images of your petition pages; our system transcribes each signature and matches the signer's name, address, and date against official voter registration data to confirm they're a registered voter in the correct jurisdiction.
Last updated for the 2026 cycle on December 18, 2025. Always confirm requirements and deadlines with your state or local election authority.