Georgia prepares to cancel hundreds of thousands of voter registrations
- The state plans to cancel 455,000 voter registrations based on inactivity and failure to participate in previous elections.
- Concerns have been raised by voting rights activists that this may disenfranchise eligible voters who have not voted recently.
- Critics worry that new legislation could further complicate the voting process and undermine electoral participation.
In Georgia, the state is undertaking significant actions regarding voter registrations, specifically planning to cancel around 455,000 registrations. These cancellations are largely attributed to voters being designated as 'inactive' after not participating in elections, such as missing the last two general elections or having their mail returned undeliverable. The state's 'use it or lose it' law is prompting this controversial move, which critics argue may disenfranchise active voters who simply chose not to vote, raising concerns among voting rights activists. The state's Elections Director, Blake Evans, defended the action, citing the use of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) as a valuable tool for maintaining voter list accuracy. Additionally, a bill currently under consideration in the Georgia Senate could further complicate the situation by allowing a state board associated with Donald Trump to challenge thousands of voters and mandating hand counts of ballots, potentially disrupting election day processes. Critics assert that these measures could undermine voter participation and the integrity of the electoral process in Georgia.