Three independent and third-party candidates have moved closer to securing a spot on Georgia's presidential ballot, as announced by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. The candidates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Claudia De la Cruz of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, each gathered more than the required 7,500 signatures to qualify.
After a thorough review by county election officials, Kennedy garnered 11,336 accepted signatures, West received 8,075, and De la Cruz obtained 7,682. While major parties like Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians have guaranteed spots on the ballot, other parties and independent candidates must qualify through petition.
However, legal challenges from Georgia Democrats are still pending to prevent these three candidates and Green Party nominee Jill Stein from appearing on the ballot. The hearings on these challenges are set to commence next Monday, with a final ruling by Raffensperger expected thereafter to meet the deadline for mailing military and overseas ballots starting September 17.
Georgia voters have not had more than four options on the ballot since 1948, with the last instance of additional candidates being in 2000 when independent Pat Buchanan qualified. Kennedy faced a setback in New York recently when a judge ruled against his ballot placement due to discrepancies in his listed address.
While Democrats in Georgia have raised concerns about the petition procedures, the Kennedy campaign has defended the validity of their signatures, dismissing the allegations as baseless. The recent legislation in Georgia now allows candidates from parties appearing on ballots in at least 20 other states to qualify, a move seen by many as a potential challenge to Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Green Party, nominating Jill Stein, is also aiming to secure a spot on Georgia's ballot using the 20-state rule. The upcoming hearings will determine the fate of these candidates and the diversity of choices available to Georgia voters in the upcoming election.
