- Magistrate Courts hear civil cases only in amounts less than $15,000. There are no jury trials in Magistrate Court. 
- Magistrate Courts hear landlord tenant dispossessory cases (i.e. a case where a landlord is seeking an eviction of their tenant) and can order evictions. 
- The Chief Magistrate can determine procedures for managing the cases in front of the Magistrate. For example, in Fulton County the Chief Magistrate informs parties in landlord tenant dispossessory cases on the benefits of mediation and provides on-site mediators to resolve landlord tenant disputes before the parties appear in front of the judge. 
- Magistrate Courts only have jurisdiction over their respective counties. Each county has its own magistrate court. Magistrate Court Judge term lengths vary per county, however most serve four year terms. Local Superior Court Judges set parameters for Magistrate Courts. 

Local Judges who hear low-value civil cases and eviction cases

Putnam

2026 Georgia Primary Election

Georgia

Housing & Urban Development

Judicial Efficiency

Legal Experience

Ethics & Conduct

Judicial Administration

Community Involvement

Chief Magistrate

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. The Board of Education is entirely independent from the rest of the county government.
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day.
- Board of Education members are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Part of the board that governs your county's public school system

Teacher Pay

College & Career Readiness

Access to Education

School Curriculum

School Facilities & Resources

Student Wellbeing

Teachers

County Board of Education Member

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay in property and sales taxes, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms in staggered years. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county

Taxes

Public Transportation

Economy

Public Services

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

County Commissioner

- Despite their name, State Courts in Georgia have limited jurisdiction within their county. State Court Judges also have limited jurisdiction over the types of cases they hear, as opposed to Superior Court. 
- State Court Judges hear misdemeanors, like traffic tickets. They also issue arrest and search warrants and hold preliminary hearings in some criminal cases. 
- State Court Judges hear most civil matters that aren't related to land titles, divorce, or cases involving non-monetary damages (those matters are handled by the Superior Court).
- State Court Judges are elected in non-partisan county wide elections and serve four year terms. The Governor can appoint State Court Judges when vacancies arise. 


Local Judges who hear misdemeanors and some civil cases

Criminal Justice

Consumer Protection

Judicial Philosophy

State Court Judge

Quitman

Albany

Rincon

Port Wentworth

Patterson

Blackshear

Offerman

Waycross

Helena

College Park

Lovejoy

Forest Park

Lake City

Riverdale

Morrow

Jonesboro

Cumming

Oxford

Covington

Social Circle

Sandy Springs

Roswell

Johns Creek

Alpharetta

Peachtree Corners

Boston

Ochlocknee

Meigs

Cairo

Thomasville

Barwick

Tucker

Snellville

Lilburn

Grovetown

Harlem

Augusta

Montezuma

Pine Mountain

Greenville

Warm Springs

Manchester

Athens

Duluth

Suwanee

Norcross

Berkeley Lake

Lawrenceville

Allenhurst

Flemington

Gumbranch

Hinesville

Midway

Riceboro

Walthourville

Stockbridge

Orchard Hill

Griffin

Canon

Carnesville

Franklin Springs

Lavonia

Martin

Royston

Sandersville

Deepstep

Swainsboro

Bowersville

Hartwell

Rutledge

Porterdale

Lakeland

Columbus

Carl

Auburn

Dallas

Hiram

Taylorsville

Braswell

Aragon

Cedartown

Rockmart

Madison

Buckhead

Bostwick

Bowman

Newborn

Hull

Danielsville

Comer

Colbert

Watkinsville

Carlton

North High Shoals

Bishop

Tignall

Rayle

Mansfield

Woodville

White Plains

Full profiles for 15 counties, including Cobb, Fulton, and Chatham

Full profiles for every county in the state

Candidate lists and metadata for down to state legislative districts and 3 counties including Fulton County

Candidate lists and metadata for every county in the state

2026 Georgia candidates

Putnam Chief Magistrate

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Putnam County Board of Education Member, District 1, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Putnam County Commissioner, District 3, Republican Primary

3 candidates

How this impacts you

Putnam County Commissioner, District 4, Republican Primary

3 candidates

How this impacts you

Putnam State Court Judge

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Putnam County Board of Education Member, District 2, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Quitman County Commissioner

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Quitman County Commissioner

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Quitman County Board of Education Member, District 1

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Quitman County Board of Education Member, District 2

1 candidate

How this impacts you