A federal judge in Georgia has denied a request to reopen voter registration for November’s elections, despite disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene. U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross rejected arguments from three groups that sued, stating that they failed to sufficiently prove that their members were harmed by the registration deadline. The groups had argued that damage from the hurricane unfairly deprived people of the opportunity to register. However, Ross stated that there are no state laws allowing the governor or Secretary of State to extend the deadline, and there was not enough evidence to link the failure to register with the impacts of the hurricane.
The state and the Republican Party argued that reopening registration could disrupt the election process, as absentee ballots had already been mailed and early in-person voting was set to begin. Ross agreed with this argument, stating that the harm to the state’s interests outweighed the interests of the plaintiffs. The lawsuit filed by the Georgia NAACP, the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda and the New Georgia Project argued that the hurricane forced them to cancel voter registration activities, potentially disenfranchising prospective voters. Despite the verdict, leaders of the NAACP and the Coalition for the People’s Agenda expressed their intention to continue fighting to protect voters’ rights.
The lawsuit highlighted the challenges faced by voters in Georgia due to Hurricane Helene, including power outages, internet outages, and closed election offices. The lawsuit also noted that mail pickup and delivery was suspended in several counties, making it difficult for people to register to vote. The plaintiffs argued that Governor Kemp could extend the deadline using his emergency powers, but the state countered that there is a difference between individual registration and registration drives by nonprofits. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the closely contested presidential race in Georgia, where a few thousand votes could sway the outcome of the election.
In Florida, a federal judge also denied a request to reopen voter registration, with the plaintiffs considering whether to appeal. The lawsuit in Florida, brought by the League of Women Voters and NAACP, argued that people may have missed the registration deadline due to Hurricane Helene. South Carolina extended its registration deadline after the hurricane, and Georgia and Florida had also extended deadlines after previous hurricanes. North Carolina’s registration deadline is not until Friday, and voters there can register and cast a ballot during the early in-person voting period. Advocacy groups had called on Governor Kemp and Secretary of State Raffensperger to extend the registration deadline in affected counties before the Georgia lawsuit was filed.
Despite the denial of the request to reopen voter registration, the groups that brought the lawsuit have not ruled out an appeal. With the presidential race in Georgia hanging in the balance, the outcome of the case could have significant implications for the election. The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has highlighted the challenges faced by voters in the southeastern states, with disruptions to registration processes and concerns about disenfranchisement. As the election approaches, advocates continue to push for measures to protect voters’ rights and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
