A guide to the county offices you'll be voting on | Here's why they matter

The district attorney's job is to prosecute people who are accused of committing crimes. 

During court cases and criminal trials, the district attorney represents the local government and the people of their district. In Georgia, each district attorney reports to the Attorney General's Office. 

Each district attorney serves as the top prosecutor in their county, but not the entire state. Some district attorneys serve only the cities in Georgia, such as Augusta and Athens, because those are the only cities in the county. 

District attorneys are elected into their positions once the people vote. This person also works with law enforcement agencies to investigate crimes and determine if charges should be filed.

Their office also works with victims to ensure they get much-needed support, according to the National District Attorney Association.

District Attorneys' offices have a full-time staff of assistant district attorneys, investigators and others who are not elected but hired by the district attorney.

According to the National District Attorney Association, the district attorney plays a crucial role in public safety and has a say in some criminal justice policies.

According to the Georgia Constitution, district attorneys hold a four-year term. A law degree is required to prosecute someone in the state of Georgia. District attorneys also need to pass the bar exam and be in good standing with the Georgia Bar Association to practice law like any other lawyer.

District attorneys normally prosecute all superior court matters. 

What is a superior court clerk, you might ask? They are the official "record keepers" of the county, specifically for criminal and civil court filings. 

Most counties' superior court clerks are actually in charge of deeds and other real estate documents connected to your properties, private company-owned properties and government buildings.

According to the Superior Court Clerks of Georgia, clerks have administrative, judicial, property and duties in other courts. 

The collective stated on its website that clerks account for funds paid into court registries, approve notary applications, file partnership records, trade name registration, and attorney bar admissions records. 

Clerks can also administer oaths and file physicians' licenses.

Depending on the county, some superior clerks serve as jury clerks, the collective added.

Whenever you receive a jury summons in the mail, you are asked to contact the court clerk for the court of trial you will be sitting in. 

Clerks also do the background work for managing juries during the selection process, including updating the system during conflict. 

Their job is also considered that of court supporters as they maintain and manage court records for all judges, issue subpoenas, prepare court documents for transmission to other courts, including state courts and more.

Superior court clerks can also serve in the state court, juvenile court and magistrate court. 

A sheriff is the chief officer of a law enforcement agency who has duties involving courts, and particularly the jail.

Sheriffs' jobs are quite different from those of police chiefs because of their duties in jail. However, they still play a significant role in enforcing the law. 

Multiple deputies under the sheriff also enforce the law and do most of the patrolling and jail officers.

According to the Georgia Sheriff's Association and Georgia law, sheriffs also maintain the safety and security of the county's courts.

Their main duties are taking care of inmates' basic needs, maintaining a record of all inmates, creating a list of registered sex offenders to go out, making sure court duties are taken care of and more.

By law, sheriffs are required to perform mental health transfers, maintain courthouse security, attend all sessions of the superior court, determine the legal status of immigration and more.

Sheriffs have the help of their deputies to help them enforce hundreds of laws written in Georgia mandates.

Georgia sheriffs are also the law enforcer for the unincorporated areas in each county. 

Sheriffs also have a duty to protect county offices and buildings. 

Although sheriffs are elected, they must be qualified as candidates and must uphold their duties in order without violating any laws while in office. 

Georgia law states that candidates must be registered to vote, at least 25 years old, not have a felony conviction, complete an educational certification and more. 

Sheriffs normally hold four-year terms, according to the National Sheriff's Association.

The main job of a tax commissioner is to collect property taxes and vehicle taxes. Each county has one tax commissioner, who is also known as an assessor. 

Tax commissioners work closely with the county board of commissioners, which includes some members you will be voting for on your 2024 ballot.

When registering your vehicle for the first time in the state of Georgia, depending on the county you reside in, you will receive your license plate from the tax commissioner's office and pay fees and taxes on your vehicle to that office. 

You normally renew your vehicle's decals with your county's tax commissioner's office and not the Department of Driver Services. 

Tax commissioners are also in charge of property taxes for mobile homes and personal property, and your ad valorem taxes -- which are value taxes assessed annually that you pay at registration. 

They can also bill, account for, and disburse ad valorem taxes when needed.

According to the Greene County Tax Commissioner's Office website, the office was established by the Georgia Constitution, as are most elected positions. 

Tax assessors and commissioners also have the authority to approve or deny a taxpayer's homestead and all other exemptions.

According to several Georgia counties' codes, each county's board of commissioners is responsible for creating specific rules that affect residents. 

The board's duties are similar to those of a city council, but it oversees the entire county instead of just one city or town.

According to the Georgia County Association, most boards of commissioners consist of board members and a board chair, who work full-time or part-time. 

Here are some matters that the board of commissioners has control over, according to some Georgia counties: 

• Direct and control property in the county 
• Levy taxes within the county -- including ad valorem taxes
• Change, abolish and establish roads, bridges and more 
• Examine and audit claims and accounts of officers and tax commissioners that function under the county
• Regulate land and zoning within specific areas
• Create ordinances and rules pertaining to preserving historic parks and buildings
• Create consequences for violating certain building codes and zoning ordinances
• Adopt ordinances to prevent loitering, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, and other violations.

The Georgia General Assembly created the board by a local act but no longer has the authority to pass local laws.

Each member of the board gets benefits like any other job despite them being elected into their positions. 

Once elected, each member also takes an oath of office before they are allowed to start duties as a commissioner. 

The Georgia County Association also states that the board of commissioners is in charge of repairing or maintaining courthouses, jails, or any other county building. 

Board members are also in charge of budgeting for all county offices, including the sheriff, tax commissioner, superior court judge, and even the coroner. 

According to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners's website, commissioners in the state of Georgia have four year terms. 

Each board member represents a county district, which is divided into various segments by population. The Georgia General Assembly votes on those districts in the state, which determines who votes where. 

Unlike district attorneys, solicitors general only handle misdemeanor criminal and traffic offenses in the county. 

If you were to get a traffic ticket and you were in violation of the law, most likely, you would receive a public defender or private attorney, and the solicitor general would be the one determining your charges and how they should go about prosecuting you and holding you accountable.

According to Douglas County's website, the solicitor general aims to "ensure the public's safety, advocating for crime victims and more."

Despite the level of charges they handle, solicitors general are very similar to the jobs of district attorneys. 

The website added misdemeanors that solicitors general handle are family violence battery, simple battery, stalking, driving under the influence, abandonment of a child, animal cruelty, criminal trespass and more.

According to the Clayton County Solicitors General Office, solicitors general do not work alone. They also have a chief assistant solicitor general, a deputy chief assistant solicitor general and a senior assistant solicitor general.

Like district attorneys, solicitors general must have a law degree and pass the bar exam in the State of Georgia to prosecute those accused of breaking the law. 

According to the Greene County Tax Commissioner's Office, the county board of education is an elected body that helps create the county's annual budget for schools. 

They can also levy the mill rate, which raises one in one-thousandth of a dollar for the taxable property, helping fund a portion of the school's budget, according to the Georgia Governor's Office of Student Achievement. 

Georgia law requires that all school board members live in the county or territory embraced by the school district. 

According to the Georgia Department of Education, each member of a local or county school board must comply with the state and county codes of ethics, attend state-mandated training programs and more. 

The department also states that the board cannot be over seven members. 

Most local boards of education meet on a calendar basis, which can be every month, every two months, or some can meet biweekly.

County boards are part of a local school board, but they are separate from big-city school systems, such as Atlanta Public Schools, which has its own board of education.

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