ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has set an election calendar to be used by Georgia in next year's federal contest.
The order issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Steve Jones marks the end of a lawsuit against Georgia filed by the federal government last year. The Department of Justice alleged Georgia wasn't allowing enough time for members of the military and others living overseas to return absentee ballots in federal runoff elections.
The changes, which end up making the state's primary much earlier than the current schedule, only affect federal elections. Unless the Legislature changes the calendar for state elections to match the new federal calendar, there will be separate state and federal primaries in Georgia.
Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who oversees elections, says he believes the state should appeal Jones' order.
