Before going to the polls for midterm elections, Georgia residents should check their registration.
Georgia voters may find an unexpected hurdle the next time they head to the polls.
The Georgia secretary of state’s office said the purge is part of an effort to maintain accurate voter rolls.
“We do this to keep our voter list accurate,” Georgia Secretary of State Blake Evans told the AJC. “We want to have the most up-to-date voter list in the country.”
However, the decision is drawing criticism from voting rights advocates. Georgia has a “use it or lose it” law, which requires voters to participate in elections at least once every five years or risk removal from voter rolls. While legal, the practice has led to concerns about disenfranchisement, particularly among minority, low-income, and elderly voters who may not vote in every election but still meet residency requirements.
Helen Butler, a voting rights advocate and executive director of the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, warned that such purges could strip eligible voters of their rights.
“I’m really concerned that eligible voters will be removed when they shouldn’t be,” Butler said. “If you still live in Georgia and are a resident, you should be able to vote.”
Efforts to monitor unfair voting practices remain ongoing, as advocates push for clearer notification processes and opportunities for reinstatement before voters are removed from the rolls.
Voting rights advocates argue that reducing polling locations can lead to longer wait times, increased transportation barriers, and lower voter turnout, especially in rural and low-income areas. As states prepare for upcoming elections, civil rights groups continue to challenge efforts they say make it harder for marginalized communities to exercise their right to vote.
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Source: Black Enterprise
