On May 29, the Georgia Secretary of State filed this brief in Cooper v Raffensperger, n.d., 1:20cv-1312. It argues that the U.S. District Court should not give any relief from petitioning for independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties, notwithstanding the health crisis.

The state claims that Georgia’s petitioning period, seven months, is the longest in the nation. This is erroneous. A majority of states do not set a starting date for candidate petitions, and petitions to qualify a new party. Certain other states permit a year to gather the signatures.