Forsyth County candidates must qualify March 2-6 at FCVRE

Qualifying for Forsyth County offices will take place Monday, March 2, 2026 through Friday, March 6, 2026 at the Forsyth County Voter Registrations & Elections Office, 1201 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, Georgia 30040. "Qualifying will begin Monday, March 2, 2026 and end on Friday March 6, 2026," the county notice states, adding that "Hours are as follows: Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m./noon."

The county spelled out which candidates should appear at FCVRE and which must go to party organizations. "Candidates who wish to qualify for the May 19, 2026 Nonpartisan General Election or qualify as an independent candidate for the November 3, 2026 General Election for a Forsyth County office will qualify with the FCVRE department," the notice says. It also directs that "Candidates who wish to qualify for the May 19, 2026 General Primary Election as a political party candidate for a Forsyth County office must qualify with either the Forsyth County Democratic Party or the Forsyth County Republican Party." The county added that "FCVRE staff will be present during the designated time to qualify nonpartisan/independent candidates" and that "Representatives from each political party will be present during the designated time to qualify political party candidates."

The public-facing announcement provides firm dates, location and staffing but leaves several practical items unspecified. The FCVRE text does not list candidate filing fees, the specific forms or identification required to qualify, names of county staff or party representatives who will be present, or a phone number or email for candidate questions. Candidates planning to file at 1201 Sawnee Drive should prepare to appear in person during the published hours and bring documentation commonly required for filings, noting the notice itself does not enumerate those items.

Residents should not confuse this Cumming, Georgia schedule with activity in Forsyth County, North Carolina. In the Winston-Salem area, early voting for the March 3, 2026 primary "officially opened Today, Thursday February 12, 2026 in Forsyth County," the Winston-Salem Chronicle reported, and the Forsyth County Board of Elections calendar shows "Thursday, February 12, 2026 Early Voting begins at 8 AM" and "Saturday, February 28, 2026 Early Voting ends at 3 PM." The North Carolina schedule lists Election Day as "Tuesday, March 3, 2026" with polls opening at 6:30 AM and closing at 7:30 PM.

Forsyth County, Georgia candidates aiming for county offices have one window to qualify at FCVRE: March 2-6 at 1201 Sawnee Drive in Cumming, with weekday hours as published. Party hopefuls for the May 19 primary must instead work with the Forsyth County Democratic Party or Forsyth County Republican Party during that period, with party representatives scheduled to be present.