U.S. Justice Department rejects Georgia voter screening
Update in bold below, at 5:25 p.m.
The U.S. Justice Department has rejected a program put together by Secretary of State Karen Handel to comb through state databases to detect ineligible voters who may not be U.S. citizens, calling it both inaccurate and discriminatory.
The system was used last year, in the months before the 2008 general election.
Download the DOJ letter here. It says, in part:
We have considered the accuracy of the state’s verification process. Our analysis shows that the state’s process does not produce accurate and reliable information and that thousands of citizens who are in fact eligible to vote under Georgia law have been flagged….
An error as simple as transposition of one digit of a driver[s] license can lead to an erroneous notation of a non-match…..
….Although the state has not provided data on the racial and language minority characteristics of all registrants whose applications went through the verification process, we have been able to compare the composition of those persons whom the state has flagged for further inquiry because of a non-match with both the composition of newly registered voters in the state and the composition of existing registered voters….
[A]pplicants who are Hispanic, Asian or African-American are more likely than white applicants, to statistically significant degrees, to be flagged for additional scrutiny….
The Justice Department declined to share the stats that it said proved discrimination. “Internal deliberations and discussions regarding charging decisions are not something we can provide,” a spokesman said.
Secretary of State Karen Handel, a Republican candidate for governor, condemned the decision in a statement released this morning, saying it would open the floodgates to non-qualified voters. Handel also said the DOJ was a participant in the decision-making process that produced the program:
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…. Clearly, politics took priority over common sense and good public policy.
Pay attention to this. This is the first Obama administration judgment on an election law passed by a Republican-dominated General Assembly.
It could be an indication of how the Justice Department will react to S.B. 86, a measure signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue last month which would require every new voter to present proof of citizenship upon registration.
Nor are all Republicans united on this. Randy Evans, the Republican appointee to the State Elections Board, called the screening program a “terrible waste of taxpayer dollars and a slap in the face of Latino voters.”
“And yes, I know this is the requested approval from the DOJ from the case from last year — in advance of the new legislation that is the SoS codification of the compromise ruling. But from the DOJ perspective, they are one and the same,” he wrote in one of two e-mails this afternoon.
The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering arguments on the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which requires federal approval of all changes to election law in Georgia and several other states with a history of discrimination.
U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a Republican from Sharpsburg who has been critical of Georgia’s continued inclusion in the mandates of the Voting Rights Act, added the following this afternoon:
“Justice’s ruling in this case is so transparently political that I’d hate to be the person at the department who had to put the right spin on this junk.
This goes to the heart of what I’ve been trying to say about the problem with ‘preclearance’: It creates a self-justifying cycle.
Georgia works with the federal government on a plan, we submit the plan to those exact same people, and they then ‘discover’ some violation of civil rights and use that as evidence that Georgia still requires federal oversight. It’s infuriating.
Jon Greenbaum is legal director for Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, one of several groups that opposed the screening:
“We are pleased that the Department of Justice correctly found that Secretary Handel’s verification procedures are inaccurate and discriminatory. Preventing these procedures from going into effect will prevent Secretary Handel from keeping many thousands of eligible Georgia voters off the rolls,” he said.
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260 comments Add your comment
Matilda
June 1st, 2009
12:27 pm
Justice for all, I’m with you on the right to vote being for citizens only! I find it hard to believe the supposition, however, that people who are here illegally will risk being exposed and deported by fraudulently registering or standing in line four hours to vote. Yes, the registration process SHOULD verify eligibility, but Ms. Handel’s plan was deemed ineffective (and partisan it would seem if anyone remembers Katharine Harris.)Stripping eligible voters from their sacred right on voting day is an egregious abuse of power! Can YOU agree with THAT?
As for being tired of working to support illegals, that’s completely understandable. Why don’t you insist that your representatives pressure the authorities to actually ENFORCE our current laws? Your anger at the immigrants is a TOTALLY separate issue! Unless you believe that illegal immigrants fraudulently elected the REPUBLICANS who hold nearly all the power in this state — the Republicans who don’t appear to be deporting their landscaping crews with any speed. I suggest you write your representatives more often.
Craig
June 1st, 2009
12:30 pm
Georgia voter fraud: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Georgia_vote_fraud
stevew
June 1st, 2009
12:37 pm
If the state of Georgia is willing to come to your home and provide you with a photo ID at no charge, then what is the problem, unless of course ACORN has just signed someone up who is illegal or dead? I have to have some kind of photo ID to get on a plane, renew my car tag, etc.. Sounds kinda like “Chicago Politics”–vote early and vote OFTEN..
John
June 1st, 2009
12:38 pm
People should be required to prove their identity? The government works for people, not the other way around. So many xenophobic Republicans who fear minorities forget that their solutions, such as requiring people to prove citizenship affirmatively before being registered to vote, result in our liberties being restricted one by one. Yes, requiring a citizen to prove to the government he can not vote (instead of the burden being on the government, heaven forbid) will move us one step closer to national IDs. (Everyone have their passport?) Let the government, with its money and power, carry the burdens of proof rather than ordinary citizens.
Rick in Grayson
June 1st, 2009
12:38 pm
Only US citizens are allowed to vote in state and federal elections. Voters should be required to provide proof that they are US citizens. Neither drivers licenses or local utility bills are proof of US citizenship. Where’s the problem?
If not, why not adopt the American Idol method of voting? You can call in or send a text message. Vote early and often as emphasized by the Democrats! If the US charges for each vote, we might even put a dent in our tremendous national deficit!
Cindy
June 1st, 2009
12:38 pm
Glad to see we are ridding this country of useless, unwanted neocons. I doubt foreign countries want them either, but at least they won’t be voting there or trying to force their narrow mindedness on the governments. Obama will never harm this country as much as bushie and his boys.
Tank
June 1st, 2009
12:41 pm
Please overlook the stupidity. Turd Furgeson only graduate from kindergarten
RaceCop
June 1st, 2009
12:41 pm
It is racist and discriminatory to attempt to prevent illegal’s from voting in elections that are only from US citizens that are leagally registered to vote.
Voter
June 1st, 2009
12:41 pm
THANK YOU, DOJ!!!!!! Republicans and their manipulative, un-American, un-Constitutional attempts to deny Georgians their right to vote are on the way OUT.
stevew
June 1st, 2009
12:41 pm
MATILDA; Where in the Constitution does it give anyone the “Sacred” right to vote? Remember, this country is a Republic, not a democracy..
ScottM
June 1st, 2009
12:43 pm
Bravo DOJ. A good decision that empirically confirms that this state still has a long way to go. Xenophobic and racist Georgians, you lost in 2008, you continue to lose, and the statistics don’t look good for your future.
Justice for all
June 1st, 2009
12:45 pm
Maybe having a government that abides by the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is a good place to start.
Matilda
June 1st, 2009
12:47 pm
Steve, “sacred” was an adjective denoting my feelings because it’s something that’s important to me as a citizen of this country and registered voter. I’m sorry if you find my sentiments offensive.
If Handel’s attempt to garner Republican favor via the mass purging of voter rolls (ala KH, Fla 2000) results in me being turned away on election day, then yes, it WILL be your problem too, I promise.
Justice for all
June 1st, 2009
12:49 pm
Matilda – There is exactly four (4) years between elections. Voters that cant get property registered to vote in a 4 year time span dont deserve to be counted in the last minutes of an election. Maybe one can look at the voter and their lazy behavior and not so much the fault of the states they live in. After all, I personally think 4 years is ample time to get your voter registeration in order.
JAY
June 1st, 2009
12:52 pm
I really feel sorry for you people that have boiled down your worldview to “democrats do this, republicans do that”.
THEY’RE THE SAME THING, YOU MORONS! Each party takes turns in power upholding the interests of corporations that own them even at the detriment of your own interests, and blaming the other party the whole time.
VOTE THIRD PARTY!
Donna P.
June 1st, 2009
12:54 pm
Maybe Georgia should make EVERYONE who is registered to vote to re-register showing their birth certificates and some form of Georgia identification (i.e., driver’s license, utility bill, etc.). That way, there would be no charges of discrimination. I know it would cost money but in the end, we could be sure that our registered voters are actually American citizens. Maybe ACORN could give the Secretary of State some grant money to do this.
Turd Furgeson
June 1st, 2009
12:55 pm
Matilda being turned away on voting day it will be a problem…eeeww, scary. K Harris did exactly as she should have. With the way in which those FL ballot cards were being handled the counts, recounts couldve continued forever, or atleast until the Dems got their way the ALL VOTE COUNTING MUST STOP, wouldve been the mantra.
The minorties in this Country are so much more biased and racist than the majorities I would venture to guess that should whites become the minority they would be afforded not many of the same opportunities ie Federal/State govt jobs. Now of course the minorities will deny same, however, fact is fact.
All you molly-coddlers, johnny milktoast and mealymouthers better wake up.
BFT
June 1st, 2009
12:58 pm
I can uunderstand to a degree that it might be inaccruate. The details in how it would be implemented or why it was considered to be inaccurate were not given unfortunately. However dems typically block attempts to verify the validity of a registered voter to vote. Now why that is can probably be easily figured out. My guess is S.B. 86 will find a similar fate. Far be it for this country to actually verify voters. Recall Saddam’s claim that 100% of the country voted for him in Iraq’s “free” elections. Eventually and relatively soon you’ll be seeing that same sort of thing in the US.
F. Derrick Hall
June 1st, 2009
12:58 pm
If you think either of the parties holds a monopoly on righteousness or evil, you are ignorant. Concur with Jay- aside from a few controversial non-issues to push the mouth-breathers’ buttons, Republicans and Democrats are the exact same thing. 2 sides of the same filthy, corrupt coin.
Donna P.
June 1st, 2009
12:59 pm
To Scott M., what do you mean “xenophobic and racist Georgians, you lost in 2008″? Perhaps you are referring to the fact the most Georgians voted against Obama (and we are proud of that fact). We voted against socialism and tax increases? We voted against government run everything? This is what makes America great, some of us stand up and use our votes to save America not destroy it.
Mike S.
June 1st, 2009
1:02 pm
Robert H. Tweedell – The right to vote is not a state issue. It is a right of all citizens. Go back to school. Of course all the Ga republicans can’t be bothered with funding education so good luck.
Turd Furgeson
June 1st, 2009
1:04 pm
Most it seem want to behave like the typical basketball players or the girls from TLC…make millions of dollars, blow it all on wine, women and song then cry foul when one must delcare bankruptcy.
Well ya better pay the monthly lease on the Mercedes C class/BMW 3 series ya been driving and also dont forget the interest on your rooms to go pinewood furniture is retroactive to your purchase date should you choose not to pay before said interest-free years expires.
Whoever heard of predatory lending until the minorities got involved…mmm hmmmm. Perhaps ya best read your credit agreements a little more thoroughly and quit blaming everyone except your own sorry behind for your stupid decisions…ya failures.
Mike S.
June 1st, 2009
1:05 pm
Donna P. – I love how Republicans that complain of socialism actually avocate socialist practices. Yes, let’s get everyone to “re-register” to vote. With new requirements of course. That’s not filtering out the voting population or anything…You sound like you would be right at home in Cuba.
Mike S.
June 1st, 2009
1:05 pm
Turd…You certainly are.
GaLiberal
June 1st, 2009
1:07 pm
Finally the DOJ is seeing through the tissue of lies from Handel and the Rethuglicons. It is simply a tatic to weed out voters that would likely vote for Democrats ensuring the Rethuglicons strangle hold on the state. Just look at the Rethuglicon’s poor record on just about everything. Cut taxes at every opportunity which left the state with a multiBILLION dollar shortfall for this fiscal year. Passed pro gun nut laws including allowing guns in restraunts, churches, local and state parks, and MARTA. Cut funding of a taxpayer reliefe fund so now cities and counties either cut back on local services or raise taxes. Gave away BILLIONS in incentives in the guise of creating 100’s of new jobs (some of which went to Alabama residents). Keep voting Repthuglicon and Georgia will wind up being just another backward Southern state.
Turd Furgeson
June 1st, 2009
1:09 pm
Aw…whats wrong Mike…did the repo man take your little BMW 325i or perhaps Rooms to Go cleaned you out? OH wait…it was that mean ole predatory lending man wasnt it…he a mean man huh…*a tear*.
All you idoits living above your means are about to understand that the gravy train doesnt run forever. Best get that financial house in order or it will be taken care of you. Now THAT, you can take to the bank if you have ID and can get an account….
LMAO!!
Turd Furgeson
June 1st, 2009
1:11 pm
No need to cut back on services there liberass…just cut out the dead would State/Fed employees. You know…the ones who shuffle in an hour late then have to have they brefuss or read they bible then take a 1.5 to 2 hour lunch and then want to leave at 3:00 PM.
There is plenty of waste to cull out.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
June 1st, 2009
1:19 pm
Enter your comments here
Lulu
June 1st, 2009
1:19 pm
I’m curious as to how many of the posters actually took the time to read the full DOJ letter. It states very clearly that the state of Georgia is well within their rights to do what they claim they are trying to do, which is to verify that every GA voter is a citizen. And if the system finds that most people attempting to vote illegally are, in fact, minorities, then that is acceptable as long as it is accurate and fair. Unfortunately, the system Handel would like to use has a statistically significant failure rate, and those who are erroneously flagged are almost always minorities. As such, it does not comply with federal laws, and must be changed before it can be implemented legally.
I don’t personally see a problem with requiring GA to come up with a legal, fair, non-discriminatory practice to do what they claim they’re trying to do here. And if anyone has actually taken the time to read the full DOJ letter, and is actually intelligent and open enough to understand it, I can’t see how many could possibly disagree based on what most posters have said.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
June 1st, 2009
1:20 pm
Dems are corrupt – Pubs are corrupt – lawyers are corrupt – politcians are corrupt = vote for Perot!
Ron
June 1st, 2009
1:22 pm
Why is it the ones that don’t want the local government looking at voters too closely because it is a violation of rights are OK with the 2A being infringed upon? Why is it the ones that want the local government to back off voter registration want the federal government more involved with PRIVATE industry. We now own 60% of GM along with Canada and Germany having a piece of the pie. Is that the Feds job? Are you OK with that?
Either government needs to get out of our life or they do not. Have the feds get out of the “entitlement” business and I will support no verification voting. Until then, an illegal immigrant has no business voting for someone who gets to dictate how MY money is appropriated.
Steve
June 1st, 2009
1:27 pm
The report does not in ANY way, shape, or form, establish whether or not the screening works. Does it really matter if it flags more minorities than not, IF the flags are correct? No, it does not, and it should not. The preliminary research done, but not authored in the DoJ’s letter (go figure), is that the screening was correct over 70% of the time. That’s 7 out of 10 illegal voters not getting to vote in the state, which makes me happy. Maybe the DoJ needs to instead look into why so many minorities are trying to find ways to vote illegally versus caucasians. Just a thought.
Obviously, the system still need some work, as 30% being flagged incorrectly requires them to do extra work to be allowed their right to vote, which is not acceptable. That being said, a ‘transposed’ digit is something of human error, not computer error. How then, can the system (computer) show racism? It can’t and the DoJ’s letter is full of nonsense.
Even though I have voted liberal twice in the last four elections, I think the nonsense is going overboard. If the wingnuts don’t stand up to this, they will become like Ohio, Florida, New York, and other states where they pretty much have to let anyone vote who raises a stink. Georgia is one of the better states at trying to keep things in line, but they shouldn’t back down.
The reality is, the more illegal voters there are, the less the vote of the honest citizen will mean. Just because the illegal votes are perceived to fall mostly to the liberal party at this time doesn’t mean it won’t change in the future. Even if it doesn’t your vote as an individual may change in the future. This could impact every single person whining about it on here, so think before you just jump to one side simply because of which party you support.
RetLTC
June 1st, 2009
1:28 pm
Justice for all, document just one case of an illegal voting in this state. Can you?
Master
June 1st, 2009
1:34 pm
What was the term after the last elections? Oh yeah! Salty Crackers.Who party are the klu Klux Klan apart of? The Klan votes straight box down the line for the repulican party and Mrs Handel.Fisrt it was stop Obama,but he was to powerful and vote no o every bill that came from the white house.The great bible said what a man sow is what he reap.Racism is a sin and it will open the flood gates of hell for all the racist
Bob
June 1st, 2009
1:35 pm
The crooks in the Obama administration trying to steal future Georgia elections. What a sham..
Turd Furgeson
June 1st, 2009
1:35 pm
It does matter Steve!! If a piece of machinery/computer appears to make racist decision then said machine must be beaten down, disgarded then taken aboard a cruise ship and buried at sea.
It matters not the reasons why or why not…only that the lowest common denominator, even thought thats what they are and advocate, isnt what the Dems want to hear.
Ron
June 1st, 2009
1:35 pm
RetLTC – Could it be possible that our system is working and that is why we have limited to no voter fraud? Could it be that our votes are not that scrutinized because we are not a “swing” state?
republi-what?
June 1st, 2009
1:36 pm
Another attempt to disenfranchise voters that might just vote for a Democrat bites the dust… thank you Feds for reigning in our very own lunatic fringe republican non jobs…
Ron
June 1st, 2009
1:37 pm
Master – Are you saying that Obama will be what comes out of the flood gates of hell? I can concur with that.
Turd Furgeson
June 1st, 2009
1:37 pm
Ya…speaking of the KKK isnt the honorable senator from the Great State of VA a former member of the KKK? Isnt that correct masterbator or perhaps you forgot that? I thought so.
You best get off your computer and get to work or they gonna repo your Pontiac Grand Am.
FC Crusher
June 1st, 2009
1:40 pm
Only in a place like this can a call for verifiable proof of a problem end with the person making the call branded a race baiter. Exactly where in any of my comments did I mention race? But then again I suppose I should expect nothing less from someone whose creativity doesn’t appear to extend beyond ripping off Norm McDonald on SNL. .
Only in a place like this can a call for verifiable proof of a problem end with the person making the call branded a race baiter. Exactly where in any of my comments did I mention race.
Ron, I have never said I wanted to allow illegal’s the right to vote.
But for those of you who constantly caterwaul about needless government spending, how about this verification process that appears to address a problem that doesn’t exist. I asked for proof that this program addressed a legit problem over an hour and a half ago and have thus far received one link to one website that consists of broken or empty links and no facts that I can see.
If there is no proof of such fraud in the first place, and it doesn’t appear that there is, are we not needlessly spending tax payers money chasing rabbits? (Or perhaps furthering someone’s political agenda.)
Master
June 1st, 2009
1:40 pm
Hey Ron I heard your a night rider with a white hood and a burning cross.
Seem like most back water folks do think alike.
FC Crusher
June 1st, 2009
1:42 pm
And it appears my creativity extends to repeating myself. Sorry, bad editing.
RetLTC
June 1st, 2009
1:42 pm
This issue is much like the Bush administration dedicating 300 customs agents to catching all the dastardly American criminal tourists going to Cuba through Mexico. All they had to show for it was 34 boxes of confiscated Cuban cigars. And they bragged about it!!! Waste of time, waste of money, on an issue that is no more significant than a flea on an elephants azz. Sure gets the “base” fired up though. LMAO!
republi-what?
June 1st, 2009
1:42 pm
And here’s hoping we really are a swing-state soon…
Wake up folks in the center and near right– the ‘fine’ men and women of the republican’t party are not your friends… unless you are a road contractor/campaign contributor…
Bob
June 1st, 2009
1:42 pm
As far as I know, no one has a problem with Georgians voting. The problem is with NON Georgian voting here… and with some Georgians voting more than once in an election. It hasn’t been too long ago that Democrat politicians had dead people voting for them. Also, voting is NOT a right… but a privilege. In most states, convicted felons (for example) are not allowed to vote.
RetLTC
June 1st, 2009
1:43 pm
Ron, can you document any illegals voting. Are there any credible reports with specific numbers?
Turd Furgeson
June 1st, 2009
1:44 pm
Well my stocks are doing quite well today…and yours Democraps? Oh Im sorry, thats right you were too busy leasing hummers, buying pinewood furniture from Rooms to Go, purchasing $180 tennis shoes for your “lil thug in training”, getting a new set of spinners and/or 22’s for your hoopdy, buying up cases of Hawaiian Punch and stocking up on “hand me downs” from the local goodwill to take out time and make an investment that might make a return.
Awww…too bad.
Mike "Hussein" Smith
June 1st, 2009
1:44 pm
Require blood and urine samples from all voters, too. Even the white ones.
PappyHappy
June 1st, 2009
1:45 pm
The speed in which the US is becoming the second USSR is totally amazing. Even Pravda — yes PRAVDA stated last week that the ‘US was losing capitalism without a whimper’! Folks, how many American jobs did the US lose today with the loss of GM to the Obama government? How many more will we lose when they take over CITIBANK — and that is not many days away!! How many of you want second rate health rationing??? That is coming with ObamaCare!! If you love being troop led by a teleprompter, and tax evaders, then be my guest!! How many real corporate leaders do you think will be left in the ‘Old US’ three years from now?? Welcome to Obama’s new USSR!! Remember folks — this is the same Obama, who in March 2009 wanted disabled veterans to buy their own health care insurance because they had “volunteered for service!!”