Georgia is on track for a significant reduction in voter rolls this summer, as state officials prepare to cancel nearly half a million inactive voter registrations. The move marks one of the largest purges of voters in the state's history, with Georgia election officials aiming to maintain the accuracy of the voter registry.
"We want to make sure we have the most accurate voter list in the nation," Blake Evans, elections director with the Secretary of State’s Office, told FOX 5 Atlanta. The process is set to remove approximately 455,000 inactive voter registrations, with 170,000 of those appearing to have moved out of state, as reported by the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). Another 100,000 people have not voted or contacted election officials for at least nine years.
Georgia’s "use it or lose it" law stipulates voters can lose their registration if they fail to remain in contact with election officials over a five-year span and miss the next two general elections. "It’s very fair and it’s in accordance with state and federal laws," Evans explained to FOX 5 Atlanta. However, this plan has been met with concerns from various advocacy groups, who fear it might result in eligible voters, particularly those in marginalized communities, being wrongfully removed from the rolls.
Helen Butler, executive director of The Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, expressed deep concerns. "That many people, I’m really concerned that eligible voters will be removed and shouldn’t be removed," Butler said according to FOX 5 Atlanta. She pointed out issues like unreliable mail delivery, loss of housing, and lack of transportation as potential hurdles that could prevent legitimate voters from keeping their registration active, especially "people of color, those in underserved communities, and residents of rural areas."
Notices of cancellation are scheduled to be mailed to those potentially affected in July, providing an opportunity for residents to preserve their registration. "The main thing is when people move, just common folks, you know, a lot of times don’t — don’t think about updating the elections office that they have moved and canceling their — to, to cancel their record," said Evans in an interview obtained by Now Habersham. The partnership with ERIC is cited as a reason for the elevated number of cancellations, as it helps in identifying voters who have acquired a driver’s license in another state, signaling a relocation.
The full list of planned cancellations will be published in July, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, allowing Georgia voters a window to reach out to county election officials and ensure their ability to participate in the democratic process remains unchallenged.
