On March 28, the Eleventh Circuit denied a request from Georgia to rehear Green Party of Georgia v Kemp, 13-11816. The state’s request had been pending since January 27. The issue is whether Georgia’s ballot access procedures for president (for minor parties and independent candidates) is too difficult. A petition of 1% of the number of registered voters is required, and each petition sheet must be notarized. Approximately 50,000 signatures are required. No one has completed that petition in Georgia in 14 years.

The U.S. District Court had upheld the law without even waiting for evidence to be entered into the record, but the 11th circuit had sent the case back to the U.S. District Court, with language indicating that the requirement is somewhat likely to be unconstitutional. Now the U.S. District Court will hold a trial.