Things are heating up in Georgia, and that’s odd for early November. Unless, of course, it’s an election year. Highlighting a recent string of national headlines, U.S. District Court Judge Eleanor Ross declared that Georgia’s current voting procedures unconstitutionally disenfranchises certain voters, and therefore the state must change current processes to make it easier for people flagged under the state’s restrictive “exact match” law to vote.

The “exact match” law flags registrations for any voters that have even the slightest discrepancy from proof of identity, such as dropped hyphens or erroneously spelled middle names. The new procedures for those flagged as potential non-citizens was that they had to be cleared first by a deputy registrar before being able to vote.

US Passport Should Suffice to Prove Citizenship

Judge Ross issued a preliminary injunction to allow those flagged registrations, about 3,100 in total, to prove their citizenship in a kindler, gentler fashion, such as showing a US passport or something similar to a poll manager. This seems much less of a burden, and more fair to flagged voters.

Your right to vote is a basic tenet of our American political system, and one of the things that makes America great. These rights shouldn’t be taken lightly, nor should they be taken away unjustly. If you feel that you are being disenfranchised, in violation of your constitutional rights, contact a local civil rights attorney. A seasoned veteran can listen to the facts of your case, and help determine if you have a legal right of action, and best next steps to take.

Related Resources:

  • Find a Civil Rights Attorney Near You (FindLaw’s Lawyer Directory)
  • Senator Sued for Battery After Grabbing Student’s Phone (FindLaw Legally Weird)
  • Judge: Georgia, Don’t Toss Absentee Ballots (FindLaw US Eleventh Circuit)

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