ATLANTA – The ACLU of Georgia, ACLU Voting Rights Project, and Dechert LLP have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Georgia Shift against Gwinnett, Cobb, Fulton, and DeKalb Counties for failing to provide sufficient resources to provide enough polling places, voting machines, and staff to run a proper high-turnout election. “Without those tools, the boards of elections are hamstrung in their ability to ensure that voters’ sacred, constitutional right to vote is protected,” the lawsuit states.
Though the state bears its own responsibility for enacting laws and policies that protect the fundamental right to vote, the widespread operational problems described above are directly traceable to the counties under current Georgia law.
“For too long, our large metropolitan counties - where large numbers of potential voters reside - have failed to provide the tools required for their elections boards to do their job,” stated Andrea Young, Executive Director, ACLU of Georgia. “The sacred, constitutional right to vote for every Georgia citizen hangs in the balance.”
Georgia Shift is a civic organization that gives marginalized young people, including young people of color, a seat at the table of democracy through electoral action, hands-on education, and civic media programs.
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