Georgia Voter Pre-Purge Notices Reinforce Need For The For the People Act
Source: Alex Wong / Getty
On the same day voting rights groups commemorated the 56th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, news broke that some Georgia voters would receive a no-contact notice.
WXGA News in middle Georgia reported the notices were the last step before officials label a voter inactive. The outlet reported Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger ordered local agencies to send notices to 185,666 voters.
Approximately two hours south of Atlanta, WXGA reported Macon-Bibb County could lose the largest share of voters.
Fair Fight Action released a statement alleging targeted voters were disproportionately voters of color. The organization found that approximately 53 percent were voters of color, and 44 percent of all voters receiving such notices were Black.
“As Georgia moves to eliminate 185,000 voters from the rolls — mostly voters of color — the time for Congressional action has never been more urgent,” said Fair Fight Action CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo. “The For the People Act would end states’ anti-democratic use-it-or-lose-it practices, while the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would combat racial discrimination in voting. Congress must swiftly pass both these vital bills to protect all eligible voters, particularly voters of color in states like Georgia.”
GEORGIA: Starting now, the Georgia Secretary of State is mailing some voters a postcard to confirm their voter registration status. If you receive a postcard, follow the instructions and return it right away. Questions or concerns? Call 886-OUR-VOTE. #gapol pic.twitter.com/PUvlxs5H8G
— Fair Fight (@fairfightaction) August 6, 2021
The notices are the first step toward canceling the registrations of targeted voters. Fair Fight encouraged voters who receive such a notice to complete it and return it right away. Georgia is one of several states that have a use-it-or-lose-it approach to voting.
Advocates have not let up on demanding the Senate take action on voting rights. Groups like Black Voters Matter say recess can wait until the Senate passes the For the People Act and John Lewis Advancement Act.
The freedom to vote is under attack by extremist state lawmakers who want to put up deliberate barriers to make it harder to vote. The #ForThePeopleAct has provisions to remove these barriers both nationally and state-by-state. Until the Senate passes this bill, #RecessCanWait pic.twitter.com/Olcztj1h1f
— Black Voters Matter (@BlackVotersMtr) August 6, 2021
Grassroots actions were happening across the week and into the weekend. Until Freedom led a group of activists in blocking members of congress from leaving Reagan Airport without passing the For the People Act.
VIDEO: About 50 activists led by @untilfreedom were just arrested blocking the departures concourse at Reagan Airport to interrupt members of congress from flying away for recess without having passed the “For The People Act.”
Demands also included DC Statehood and reparations. pic.twitter.com/vzeJp1iuk1
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) August 6, 2021
The urgency of passing the For the People Act intensified with news of the Census data being released August 12, four days early. Redistricting is on the horizon and could do broad damage to fair participation in the Democratic process.
Source: Alex Wong / Getty
Last week during a Texas rally, former HUD Secretary Julían Castro called on President Biden to fight for voting rights and democracy with the same vigor as the infrastructure bill. On Friday, voting rights advocates gathered at the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in Washington D.C. for a Freedom Friday march and protest.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has suggested the Senate could take a new vote on right rights. But Rev. Dr. William Barber tweeted that it does not point unless Schumer gets his caucus in check on the filibuster.
Sen. Schumer, as we noted yesterday in a call with you, there’s no point in having votes on voting rights w/o making Manchin & Sinema break the filibuster by saying to them, “No infrastructure until you vote to protect infrastructure of our democracy.”
— Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II (@RevDrBarber) August 6, 2021
“No infrastructure until you vote to protect infrastructure of our democracy,” Barber said.
See Also:
‘Be Hopeful’: Where The John Lewis Voting Rights Act Stands 1 Year After Legendary Congressman’s Death
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