Stacey Abrams’ Federal Judge Sister Blocks Voter Purge in Two Georgia Counties

 Legal Insurrection

The two counties sought to remove the voters “because their registrations appeared to match U.S. Postal Service change-of-address records.”

"U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, Stacey Abrams’ sister, ruled against a voter purge in two Georgia counties before the January 5th runoff.

Background

"Here is some background in order to fully understand the ruling.

"Muscogee County wanted to remove 4,000 voters. Ben Hill County wanted to purge 150 voters.

"The two counties sought to remove the voters “because their registrations appeared to match U.S. Postal Service change-of-address records.” From Politico:

The evidence to challenge the 4,000 registrations in Muscogee County was particularly sparse. The challenge was lodged Dec. 14 by a local voter named Ralph Russell who alleged that he had compared evidence from publicly accessible voter registration databases to prove that these voters had moved out of Georgia.

“I believe that each of the individuals named … as a result of registering their name and change of address to a location outside of Muscogee County, removed to another state with the intention of making the new state their residence,” Russell told the county board. “Thus, each individual has lost their residence in Muscogee County, and consequently, each individual is ineligible to vote in Muscogee County.”

The Muscogee board met Dec. 16 and backed Russell’s motion 3-1, even though he didn’t attend the meeting and provided no additional evidence to support his challenge. Voters on Russell’s list, per the board, would be required to vote by provisional ballot and present additional evidence of residency to vote.

"City Council member Tommy Roberts in Fitzgerald, GA, challenged the 150 voters in Ben Hill County. He “relied on change-of-address data.” The board in that county voted 2-1 in favor of Roberts.

"Politico reported that “the board backed him despite evidence that the data could not be verified and would be inadmissible in court.”

"The group Majority Forward sued because “postal data is not a reliable or conclusive indicator that a voter has given up their local residence.”

"National Democratic Party attorney Marc Elias represents Majority Forward." . . . More...

More links:   2020 LawNewz

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