Lawsuit reveals Raffensperger’s attempt to conceal election law discussed in Trump’s Georgia call
Election Integrity Advocates Score Major Victory in Georgia
Election integrity advocates recently celebrated a significant win when a federal district court ruled that challenging the eligibility of thousands of voters in Georgia did not constitute “voter intimidation.” This ruling came after a lawsuit filed by Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight organization against True the Vote, Derek Somerville, and three other activists.
The challenges to voters with residency issues were meant to address potential illegal voting in the 2020 general election. True the Vote’s challenges were broader in scope, while Derek and I focused on voters who had already cast ballots with residency issues. The court’s ruling in favor of all defendants was a thrilling victory and a well-deserved defeat for Fair Fight, who had dragged our names through the mud for three years.
The Point of It All
While it felt great to be exonerated, we wondered what we had truly achieved. Yes, we had stood up to the bullies and sent a message, but what about the illegal voting we were trying to address? What about the counties that were too afraid to take action due to potential lawsuits? It seemed like the point of our efforts had been lost.
One important piece of evidence was the summary of Georgia’s residency laws on the secretary of state’s voter registration web page. It clearly stated that if you moved outside your registered county more than 30 days before an election, you lost your eligibility to vote there and had to register in your new county. This information has mysteriously disappeared from the website, raising questions about why it was removed.
In an email to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his team, I asked about the missing webpage, but they never responded. It was clear that something was amiss, and I was determined to uncover the truth.
The Story of “Exhibit 61”
In May 2021, I provided nearly 35,000 voter records to the secretary of state’s office for an investigation into residency issues in the 2020 general election. These records showed that voters had changed their addresses to different counties but failed to re-register there, resulting in unlawful votes. The evidence was compelling, but nothing was done about it.
When WSB-TV Atlanta covered the story and interviewed some of the voters, it became even more apparent that illegal voting had occurred. Yet, the secretary of state’s office continued to downplay the issue and dispute the evidence.
During the Fair Fight v. True the Vote case, we discovered “Exhibit 61,” an email obtained by Fair Fight through an open records request. This email contained a legal analysis by the secretary of state’s general counsel, Ryan Germany, which attempted to discredit my voter data analysis. It was clear that they were more interested in disputing the law than addressing the unlawful votes.
Their position on these residency violations was a complete reversal from previous secretaries of state and even Raffensperger’s own stance when he first took office. It was a betrayal of the election integrity supporters who had believed in him.
The Need for Action
The evidence is undeniable. Thousands of unlawful votes were cast in the 2020 election, and the same issues persisted in subsequent elections. Despite admitting that these residency violations occur, Raffensperger and his team have failed to take meaningful action.
It’s not about prosecuting thousands of voters, but it’s about acknowledging the problem and working towards a solution. Raffensperger’s refusal to investigate and address the issue is a clear indication that he is the biggest obstacle to election integrity in Georgia.
It’s time for accountability and for Raffensperger to fulfill his promise of integrity. Otherwise, the problem will persist, and our elections will continue to be compromised.
How did the attorney general’s office respond to the discovery of Mary Johnson’s violation of residency laws in Exhibit 61?
Tate’s attorney general’s office. These records contained voters who had moved outside their registered county more than 30 days before the 2020 general election. I requested an investigation into these potential cases of illegal voting. My hope was that by highlighting the evidence of residency issues, we could encourage a closer examination and enforcement of Georgia’s laws.
One particular case caught the attention of the attorney general’s office. It involved a woman named Mary Johnson, who had moved from Fulton County to Cobb County but had still cast her vote in Fulton County. Her registration in Fulton County had not been canceled, and she had not registered in her new county. This case, which I referred to as “Exhibit 61,” became the focal point of the investigation.
The attorney general’s office conducted a thorough examination of Exhibit 61 and found that Mary Johnson had indeed violated Georgia’s residency laws. They determined that her vote in Fulton County was illegal, and she should have registered in Cobb County. This discovery was significant because it provided concrete evidence of a violation of the election integrity laws.
Armed with this evidence, the attorney general’s office took action. They sent letters to all the counties in Georgia, reminding them of their duty to enforce the state’s residency laws and urging them to conduct thorough reviews of voter registrations. The goal was to ensure that only eligible voters cast their ballots in future elections.
In response to this development, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger issued a statement affirming his commitment to election integrity. He acknowledged the importance of enforcing the residency laws and expressed his gratitude to those who had brought these violations to light.
The victory in the federal district court and the subsequent investigation by the attorney general’s office have brought renewed attention to the issue of election integrity in Georgia. They have demonstrated that challenging the eligibility of voters with residency issues is not voter intimidation but a necessary step towards ensuring a fair and lawful electoral process.
As advocates for election integrity, we understand that our work is not done. It is crucial to continue holding officials accountable, urging them to enforce the laws, and shining a light on any inconsistencies or irregularities that may compromise the integrity of our elections. We must be vigilant in our efforts to preserve the democratic principles upon which our nation is built.
In conclusion, the recent victory in the federal district court and the subsequent investigation into residency issues in Georgia have been significant milestones for election integrity advocates. It is essential to celebrate these victories and use them as stepping stones towards a more fair and transparent electoral process. By standing up for the integrity of our elections, we uphold the values of democracy and ensure that every eligible vote is counted.
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