Now: AG Garland announces DOJ is suing Georgia over new voting restrictions that the government alleges were adopted with the purpose of violating the rights of Black voters.
"Where we believe the civil rights of Americans have been violated, we will not hesitate to act."
"Where we believe the civil rights of Americans have been violated, we will not hesitate to act."
Garland notes today marks the 8th anniversary of Shelby County, the SCOTUS ruling that struck down a key part of the Voting Rights Act, Section 5, which required certain jurisdictions (incl. GA) to get preapproval before enforcing voting changes. He urges Congress to restore it.
Garland says he doesn't believe GA would have been able to adopt the voting restrictions now at issue in the latest federal lawsuit if the preclearance system under Section 5 was still in effect
Garland also announced new initiatives aimed at responding to the increase in threats against election officials — a directive to prosecutors/FBI highlighting these threats and prioritizing investigations, and a new cross-division task force
Asked what DOJ's suit brings beyond the seven lawsuits already pending over the GA law at issue, AAG Kristen Clarke says they looked "carefully" at the law and determined there was an "important federal interest to protect" — making sure all voters have equal access to the ballot
Story, with much more to come, on DOJ's announcement today of a new federal lawsuit challenging Georgia's latest voting restrictions. They gov't contends they're intended to violate the rights of Black voters: buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
A notable moment for Garland taking aim at SCOTUS for the Shelby County decision, which struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act eight years ago today — something he could not do publicly in his old job as a DC Circuit judge buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
Here's the memo from DAG Lisa Monaco making it a priority for DOJ to identify, investigate, and prosecute threats against election officials and volunteers: justice.gov/file/1406286/d…
"We will promptly and vigorously prosecute offenders..."
Story: buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
"We will promptly and vigorously prosecute offenders..."
Story: buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
DOJ's lawsuit will challenge sections of Georgia's SB 202 that:
- shorten the timeline for requesting an absentee ballot
- add an ID requirement
- limit # of drop sites for ballots
- ban distribution of water/food to people as they wait in line buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
- shorten the timeline for requesting an absentee ballot
- add an ID requirement
- limit # of drop sites for ballots
- ban distribution of water/food to people as they wait in line buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
Just docketed — here is DOJ's lawsuit challenging Georgia's new voting law, SB 202: s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2097…
"...the Georgia General Assembly intended to deny or abridge the right of Black Georgians to vote on account of race or color."
Story: buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
"...the Georgia General Assembly intended to deny or abridge the right of Black Georgians to vote on account of race or color."
Story: buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
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