HB1769.html

21-5-90
(a) The General Assembly hereby declares that the purpose of this article is to encourage every candidate for public office in this state to subscribe to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.
(b) It is the ultimate intent of the General Assembly that every candidate for public office in this state who subscribes to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices will follow the basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair play in order that, after vigorously contested, but fairly conducted campaigns, the citizens of this state may exercise their constitutional right to vote, free from dishonest and unethical practices which tend to prevent the full expression of the will of the voters.
(c) The purpose in creating the Code of Fair Campaign Practices is to give voters guidelines in determining fair play and to encourage candidates to discuss issues instead of untruths or distortions.

21-5-91.
As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Campaign advertising or communication' means a communication authorized by a candidate or a candidates´s campaign committee, as defined in Code Section 21-5-3, or by a committee formed primarily to support or oppose a ballot measure for the purpose of advocating the election or defeat of a qualified candidate or ballot measure through any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facility, direct mailing, e-mail, Internet website, or other electronic means, or any other type of general, public, or political advertising.
(2) 'Candidate for public office' means an individual who has qualified to have his or her name listed on the ballot of any election, or who has qualified to have written votes on his or her behalf counted by election officials, for nomination for, or election to, any state, regional, county, municipal, or district office which is filled at an election.
(3) 'Code' means the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

21-5-92.
The Secretary of State is directed to ensure that at the time any candidate declares his or her candidacy for or is nominated for public office, he or she shall receive a blank form of the Code of Fair Campaign Practices along with an express statement that subscription to the code is voluntary. The text of the code shall read as follows:

There are basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair play which every candidate for public office in the State of Georgia has a moral obligation to observe and uphold, in order that, after vigorously contested, but fairly conducted campaigns, our citizens may exercise their constitutional right to a free and untrammeled choice and the will of the people may be fully and clearly expressed on the issues.

THEREFORE:
(1) I shall conduct my campaign openly and publicly, discussing the issues as I see them, presenting my record and policies with sincerity and frankness, and criticizing without fear or favor the record and policies of my opponents or political parties which merit such criticism.
(2) I shall not use or permit the use of character defamation, libel, or slander on any candidate or his or her personal or family life.
(3) I shall not use or permit any appeal to negative prejudice based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical health status, or age.
(4) I shall not use or permit any dishonest or unethical practice which tends to corrupt or undermine our American system of free elections or which hampers or prevents the full and free expression of the will of the voters, including acts intended to hinder or prevent any eligible person from registering to vote, enrolling to vote, or voting.
(5) I shall not coerce election help or campaign contributions for myself or for any other candidate from my employees.
(6) I shall immediately and publicly repudiate support deriving from any individual or group which resorts, on behalf of my candidacy or in opposition to that of my opponent, to campaign methods and tactics which I condemn. I shall accept responsibility to take firm action against any subordinate who violates any provision of this code or the laws governing elections.
(7) I shall not use or permit or condone the use of false, misleading, or incomplete facts, quotations, statements, or statistics which are likely to leave in the minds of the public a false or mistaken impression concerning myself, any opponent, or any issue.
(8) I shall defend and uphold the right of every qualified American voter to full and equal participation in the electoral process.
I, the undersigned, candidate for election to public office in the State of Georgia, hereby voluntarily endorse, subscribe to, and solemnly pledge myself to conduct my campaign in accordance with the above principles and practices, and I understand that any question relating to compliance to this code may be submitted to the State Ethics Commission for a decision and declaration of compliance or violation.
____________________________ _____________________________'
(Date) (Signature)

21-5-93.
The Secretary of State shall print, or cause to be printed, blank forms of the code. The Secretary of State shall supply the forms as necessary.

21-5-94.
The Secretary of State shall accept all completed forms submitted pursuant to this article which are properly subscribed to by a candidate for public office before an officer duly authorized to administer oaths and shall retain them for pubic inspection until 30 days after the election. Such submissions shall be made not later than the end of the tenth day following the last day for qualifying; provided, however, that in 2004 such submissions shall be made not later than June 5, 2004. Every code subscribed to by a candidate for public office pursuant to this article is a public record open for public inspection.

21-5-95.
In no event shall a candidate for public office be required to subscribe to or endorse the code."