The ACLU of Georgia Claims Another Victory for Georgia Voters

Office of Secretary of State Complies With ACLU of Georgia's Demand

Affiliate: ACLU of Georgia
February 28, 2018 10:15 am

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ATLANTA – The ACLU of Georgia claims another victory for voters against the Secretary of State. The Secretary’s office said it would change its voter registration forms in response to the ACLU of Georgia’s demand letter sent last week.

Last week, the ACLU of Georgia warned the Secretary of State that there was an egregious error on the Georgia voter registration form that his office provides, an error that illegally misrepresented state and federal law and erected unlawful barriers to voter registration.

“Election officials must protect – rather than undermine – our sacred, fundamental right to vote,” stated Sean J. Young, Legal Director for the ACLU of Georgia. “When election officials include false and misleading information on official voter registration forms, they undermine our democracy.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, February 28, the following remains on the voter registration form posted on the Secretary of State’s website.

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These requirements are blatantly wrong, violate both state and federal law, and prevent eligible U.S. citizens living in Georgia from registering to exercise their sacred, constitutional right to vote. While state and federal laws explicitly provide that first-time mail registrants may provide a copy of proof of name and address with their voter registration form, neither law requires voters to provide documentary proof of name and residence until the time that they actually vote for the first time in Georgia.

Additionally, when eligible voters provide a Georgia driver’s license or ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number at the time they register to vote, neither state nor federal law requires Georgia voters to submit documentary proof of name and address at all if state databases verify their residence.

The ACLU of Georgia will continue being vigilant to ensure that all voter registration forms that the Secretary of State provides comply with state and federal laws that protect Georgia voters.

Click here to view this press release online.

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