Current:Home > NewsLawsuit seeks to reopen voter registration in Georgia after Hurricane Helene -TradeSphere
Lawsuit seeks to reopen voter registration in Georgia after Hurricane Helene
View
Date:2025-04-14 03:19:18
ATLANTA (AP) — Three voting rights groups are asking a federal judge to order the state of Georgia to reopen voter registration for November’s elections due to Hurricane Helene.
The groups argue in a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Atlanta that damage and disruptions from Hurricane Helene unfairly deprived people of the opportunity to register last week, in advance of the state’s Monday registration deadline.
The lawsuit filed by the Georgia conference of the NAACP, the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda and the New Georgia Project seeks to have registration reopened through Oct. 14. All three groups say they had to cancel voter registration activities last week. Historically, there’s a spike in Georgia voter registrations just before the deadline, the plaintiffs said.
“Absent action by this court, the likely thousands of voters who could not register while power was down, roads were impassible and county election and post offices were closed will be unfairly disenfranchised, an injury that can never be undone,” the plaintiffs wrote in court papers seeking a temporary restraining order reopening registration from U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross.
The judge scheduled a Wednesday hearing on the request.
A spokesperson for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who oversees statewide voter rolls, declined to comment Tuesday, saying the office doesn’t talk about pending lawsuits.
Georgia has 8.2 million registered voters, according to online records from Raffensperger’s office. But with Georgia having been decided by only 12,000 votes in 2020, a few thousand votes could make a difference in whether Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Kamala Harris wins the state’s 16 electoral votes. A number of issues related to elections in Georgia are already being litigated.
The lawsuit says the storm kept people with driver’s licenses from registering online because of widespread power and internet outages in the eastern half of the state, and kept people from registering in person because at least 37 county election offices were closed for parts of last week. The lawsuit also notes that mail pickup and delivery was suspended in 27 counties, including Augusta, Savannah, Statesboro, Dublin and Vidalia.
The suit notes that a court in South Carolina extended that state’s registration deadline after Helene and that courts in Georgia and Florida extended registration deadlines after 2016’s Hurricane Matthew. In North Carolina, which was more heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene, the registration deadline isn’t until Friday. Voters there can also register and cast a ballot simultaneously during the state’s early in-person voting period, which runs from Oct. 17 through Nov. 2.
The Georgia plaintiffs argue that the shutdown of voter registration violates their rights under the First Amendment and 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection and due process to all citizens. They also say the shutdown violates a provision of the 1993 National Voter Registration Act that requires states to accept voter registrations submitted or mailed up to 30 days before an election.
At least 40 advocacy groups asked Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Raffensperger to extend the registration deadline in affected counties before the Georgia lawsuit was filed.
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund also sent a similar letter to Florida officials, including Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Cord Byrd.
veryGood! (88832)
Related
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Mexican officials clear border camp as US pressure mounts to limit migrant crossings
- What wellness trends will be big in 2024? The Ozempic ripple effect and more expert predictions
- Russell Wilson's next stop? Eight NFL teams could be fits if Broncos dump benched QB
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Tom Smothers, half of iconic Smothers Brothers musical comedy duo, dies at 86
- Indiana gym house up for sale for $599,000 price tag
- French man arrested for allegedly killing wife and 4 young children on Christmas: An absolute horror
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Wanted: Colorado mother considered 'primary suspect' in death of 2 of her children
Ranking
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- From glacier babies to a Barbie debate: 7 great global stories you might have missed
- Illinois basketball guard Terrence Shannon Jr. suspended, charged with rape in Kansas
- 'That '70s Show' star Danny Masterson starts 30-years-to-life sentence in state prison
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- French man arrested for allegedly killing wife and 4 young children on Christmas: An absolute horror
- Idaho murders house being demolished today
- Column: The Newby Awards sends out an invitation to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
Recommendation
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
A tax increase, LGBTQ+ youth protections and more sick leave highlight California’s new laws in 2024
Stock market today: Stocks drift on the final trading day of a surprisingly good year on Wall Street
New Hampshire casino to shut down for 6 months, could re-open if sold by owner accused of fraud
Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
Cher Files for Conservatorship of Son Elijah Blue Allman
Barack Obama picks his favorite movies of the year: 'The Holdovers,' 'Oppenheimer,' others
Ohio’s GOP governor vetoes ban on gender-affirming care, transgender athletes in girls sports