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Obama Justice Department Decision Will Allow Non-Citizens to Register to Vote in Georgia
Georgia State News ^ | June 1, 2009 | Karen Handel Georgia Sec. of State

Posted on 07/19/2009 3:12:25 PM PDT by NorwegianViking

Obama Justice Department Decision Will Allow Non-Citizens to Register to Vote in Georgia

Decision Bars Georgia From Continuing Voter Verification Process

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel issued the following statement following the U.S. Department of Justice’s denial of preclearance of Georgia’s voter verification process

Atlanta - “The decision by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to deny preclearance of Georgia’s already implemented citizenship verification process shows a shocking disregard for the integrity of our elections. With this decision, DOJ has now barred Georgia from continuing the citizenship verification program that DOJ lawyers helped to craft. DOJ’s decision also nullifies the orders of two federal courts directing Georgia to implement the procedure for the 2008 general election. The decision comes seven months after Georgia requested an expedited review of the preclearance submission.

“DOJ has thrown open the door for activist organizations such as ACORN to register non-citizens to vote in Georgia’s elections, and the state has no ability to verify an applicant’s citizenship status or whether the individual even exists. DOJ completely disregarded Georgia’s obvious and direct interest in preventing non-citizens from voting, instead siding with the ACLU and MALDEF. Clearly, politics took priority over common sense and good public policy.

“This process is critical to protecting the integrity of our elections. We have evidence that non-citizens have voted in past Georgia elections and that more than 2,100 individuals have attempted to register, yet still have questions regarding their citizenship. Further, the Inspector General’s office is investigating more than 30 cases of non-citizens casting ballots in Georgia elections, including the case of a Henry County non-citizen who registered to vote and cast ballots in 2004 and 2006.

“It is important to underscore that not a single person has come forward to say he or she could not vote because of the verification process. Further, while DOJ argues that the process is somehow discriminatory, the historic voter turnout among Hispanic and African-American voters in the 2008 general elections clearly says otherwise.

“This decision provides a specific example of the inherently illogical and unfair nature of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. It is a sad day for the rights of our state and for the integrity of our elections. I remain committed to continuing the fight for citizenship verification. In the coming days, I will consider every option available to the state, including the possibility of legal action.”

Background:

As required by law and ordered by federal courts in October 2008, the eligibility of new applicants to register and vote is checked against the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) and Social Security Administration databases to ensure that individuals registering to vote report similar information. If information in these databases does not match information reported on the voter registration form, the applicant is asked to clarify the information. Additionally, if the applicant previously reported to DDS that he or she is not a U.S. citizen, that person is asked by a registrar to provide proof of citizenship.

Prior to the November 2008 General Election, Secretary Handel sent letters to 4,771 voter registration applicants whose records at DDS indicated they were not U.S. citizens, asking them to provide documentation of their citizenship. As of March 2009, 2,148 of these applicants still have chosen not to resolve the question about their U.S. citizenship.

In the November 2008 General Election, county election officials reported that 599 individuals cast a challenged ballot because the voter had previously indicated to DDS that he or she was not a United States citizen and had not resolved their status with county officials at the time of the election. Of those, 369 ballots were accepted because the voter provided documentation of their citizenship after the election; and 230 were rejected because the individual chose not to confirm his or her citizenship status.

On October 10, 2008, activist organizations including the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit to attempt to prevent Georgia from verifying the eligibility of applicants to register and vote in the November General Election, including whether those individuals were citizens of the United States.

On October 16, 2008, U.S. District Court Judge Jack Camp denied the motion by MALDEF and ACLU; directed the State to continue the verification process; and acknowledged the State’s requirements to verify information under the Help America Vote Act. In his order, Judge Camp stated:

HAVA requires that Defendant Handel match information in the statewide voter registration database with information from the Georgia DDS and the SSA databases “to the extent necessary to enable each such official to verify the accuracy of the information provided on the applications for voter registration.”

Judge Camp also stated:

Since the possibility of fraudulent and inaccurate voting could significantly injure and diminish the public’s respect and confidence in the electoral process, the State’s ability to maintain reliable voter lists is paramount to a temporary and minor inconvenience to a few individuals.

On October 27, 2008, a U.S. District Court three-judge panel again directed the State to continue its voter registration verification process and challenge ballot procedures through the November General Election.

The 2008 elections were the largest in Georgia’s history, featuring record turnout among minority voters with the citizenship verification program in place. The figures below represent voter turnout statistics among Hispanic/Latino, African-American and White voters from the 2004 and 2008 General Elections.

Voter Demographic 2004 Total Number of Votes Cast 2008 Total Number of Votes Cast Percentage Increase in Votes Cast

Hispanic/Latino 18,000 43,000 140%

African-American 834,000 1.2 million 42%

White 2.3 million 2.5 million 8%

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: 10thamendment; acorn; agenda; aliens; bho44; bhodoj; bhofascism; bhotyranny; coi; communism; communityorganizer; corruption; cwii; democrats; doj; electionfraud; endthefed; ericthejackboot; fascism; fraud; fueh; georgia; holder; illegalaliens; illegalvote; immigrantlist; immigration; impeachobama; invasion; lping; noncitizens; obama; ruleoflawignored; statesrights; tenthamendment; tyranny; voterfraud; voterregistration
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To: NorwegianViking

And that folks is how power is wielded. When republicans had the WH and congress they could have put in place laws to protect against this.


161 posted on 07/19/2009 9:47:13 PM PDT by boop (Democracy is the theory that the people get the government they deserve, good and hard.)
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To: NorwegianViking

The Obama corruption continues.


162 posted on 07/19/2009 10:02:28 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is not 'free'.)
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To: M. Espinola; NorwegianViking

I suppose BO’s goal is to render American citizenship meaningless.


163 posted on 07/19/2009 10:04:04 PM PDT by thecodont
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To: NorwegianViking

Isn’t she running for Gov.? Seems you could do worse. She has... “courage,” shall we say...


164 posted on 07/19/2009 10:25:41 PM PDT by guitarist
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To: thecodont

True, considering he is a Kenyan citizen, and refuses to admit it since he would be booted out from the White House.


165 posted on 07/19/2009 10:26:50 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is not 'free'.)
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To: NorwegianViking
This is where to report this abuse of our constitutional right to equal protection of our voting priveledges.

Please send an e-mail now !

Inspector General of the DOJ/Report Abuse

166 posted on 07/19/2009 10:39:26 PM PDT by KTM rider ( revolution is the only thing that can save us now)
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To: M. Espinola
This is where to report this abuse of our constitutional right to equal protection of our voting priveledges.

Please send an e-mail now !

Inspector General of the DOJ/Report Abuse please also mention that we need to see Obama's BC

167 posted on 07/19/2009 10:42:30 PM PDT by KTM rider ( revolution is the only thing that can save us now)
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To: PhiKapMom
Our civil Rights are being violated

REPORT CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS HERE

168 posted on 07/19/2009 10:49:49 PM PDT by KTM rider ( revolution is the only thing that can save us now)
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To: NorwegianViking

Am I missing something here? The courts have ruled on this more than once. Isn’t the DOJ in contempt of court?


169 posted on 07/19/2009 11:04:09 PM PDT by Free Vulcan (No prisoners. No mercy. 2010 awaits.....)
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To: NorwegianViking

ping


170 posted on 07/19/2009 11:15:03 PM PDT by SideoutFred (B.O. Stinks...it really does)
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To: NorwegianViking

They say self defense isn’t one of THEIR rights- Let’s Roll!


171 posted on 07/19/2009 11:26:35 PM PDT by NoLibZone (North Korea? The only buildings in Hawaii at risk of destruction are those housing Obama's records!)
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To: mkcc30

Take the Revolution to the Streets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoMHhjqMsZw


172 posted on 07/19/2009 11:40:12 PM PDT by sheikdetailfeather (The Taxman-Malarky Bill Is War On America!)
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To: SunkenCiv

Wow. Georgia is in a position to make some really big waves with this. The Georgia SOS should just nullify the DOJ decision as an unconstitutional infringement upon their internal voting affairs.


173 posted on 07/19/2009 11:52:24 PM PDT by ForGod'sSake (You have two choices and two choices only: SUBMIT or RESIST. Have I missed anything?)
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To: NorwegianViking

Justice Department meddling in the lawful operation of state laws makes me hope people stand up, speak out, demonstrate and if needed DEFY the lawyers at Justice Department.


174 posted on 07/20/2009 12:25:32 AM PDT by Rapscallion (Obama - The wolf in the suit.)
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To: Yankee

That’s exactly what I was thinking.

The DOJ order was on June 1. The SCOTUS decision came on June 9. I thought they were over the exact same issue.

I’m no lawyer. Am I missing something?


175 posted on 07/20/2009 1:09:49 AM PDT by Daisyjane69 (Michael Reagan: "Welcome back, Dad, even if you're wearing a dress and bearing children this time)
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To: boop

IF the Republicans ever gain the majority again and they insert so much as one red cent of taxpayer funds appropriated to ACORN.....I WILL FLIP.


176 posted on 07/20/2009 1:12:35 AM PDT by Daisyjane69 (Michael Reagan: "Welcome back, Dad, even if you're wearing a dress and bearing children this time)
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To: NorwegianViking

take it all the way to scotus


177 posted on 07/20/2009 2:56:13 AM PDT by xzins (Chaplain Says: Jesus befriends all who ask Him for help.)
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To: LooneyTick

“Lock and load!”

It will come to that, I’m afraid. But, it’s inevitable given the depths to which America has been brought.


178 posted on 07/20/2009 3:49:45 AM PDT by ought-six ( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts

“So you are going to make a difference.”

I wait with eager anticipation your solution to the problem.


179 posted on 07/20/2009 3:51:38 AM PDT by ought-six ( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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To: calex59

“That is why we are armed.”

It is indeed.


180 posted on 07/20/2009 3:53:04 AM PDT by ought-six ( Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule.)
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