For immediate release: October 14, 2022
CONTACT: Dorrie Toney, ACLU of Georgia, [email protected]
ATLANTA - Today, the ACLU of Georgia sent a letter to election officials statewide to provide guidance on voter challenges that are becoming increasingly common as we get closer to the November general election. We encourage those officials and attorneys representing them to carefully consult the guidance.
“County boards of elections have been inundated with thousands of voter challenges over the past few months,” said Rahul Garabadu, ACLU of Georgia senior voting rights staff attorney. “We hope that our legal guidance on voter challenges will help ensure a smoother election cycle for voters and hard-working administrators alike.”
The ACLU of Georgia has offered guidance regarding the following topics:
- Role of Poll Workers
- Challenged Status
- Use of Challenged Ballots
- What Probable Cause Means
- Mass Challenges
- Timing of Challenges
- Reject Post-Election Challenges
- Challenge Format
- Who Can Challenge
- Challenge Justifications
There are state and federal laws that govern voter challenges. However, thousands of these challenges have recently been brought before boards of elections in Gwinnett, Cobb and Forsyth counties by third-party groups seeking to circumvent the strict processes that protect the accuracy of voter rolls. Thankfully, a majority of these baseless challenges have been rejected in recent weeks so that election workers can prepare for voters to cast their ballots.
We sincerely appreciate all the hard work of elections officials in this election cycle, and stand by ready to help in any way we can.
The ACLU of Georgia will continue to monitor and challenge any unlawful actions in order to ensure the right to vote for all eligible Georgians.
Read our letter to Georgia Elections Officials.
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