Common Cause Georgia
Recent News About Common Cause Georgia
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Georgia prepares for statewide certification of general election results
Georgia is approaching the deadline for certifying its general election results, set for Friday, November 22.
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Deadline approaches for curing Georgia ballots with issues
Voters in Georgia have until 5 p.m. on November 7 to address any issues with their vote-by-mail or provisional ballots to ensure they are counted.
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Georgia SEB's new hand count rule faces opposition
On September 20, Georgia’s State Elections Board (SEB) passed a rule requiring poll workers to hand count the number of ballots from the ballot box at the end of election day. This counting will occur after ballots have been tabulated but before results are submitted to county election offices.
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Mixed scores for Georgia on Common Cause's democracy report card
Common Cause, the nonpartisan watchdog organization, has released its 2024 "Democracy Scorecard," which evaluates every member of Congress on their support for voting rights, Supreme Court ethics, and other democratic reforms.
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Common Cause Georgia addresses election denial efforts
Our Senior Director of Voting & Elections, Jay Young, spoke to CNN about Common Cause Georgia’s efforts to push back against new election denial efforts in the state.
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Georgia Elections Board passes new rules affecting 2024 certification
Earlier this week, Georgia’s State Elections Board (SEB) held virtual meetings and passed new rules that could potentially delay the certification of election results in the 2024 election. The SEB has been proposing changes to Georgia’s election certification process, which has been trusted by voters for years.
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Common Cause Georgia releases report on corporate influence in Atlanta politics
ATLANTA – Common Cause Georgia released a financial report titled “The Atlanta Way: Examining Pay-to-Play,” detailing the amounts corporate donors spend to influence Atlanta politics. The report highlights the funds spent by wealthy special interests to promote unpopular legislative policies, such as Atlanta’s $110 million "Cop City" project for a police training facility.
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State Election Board holds secret meeting violating Georgia's open meetings law
ATLANTA—Last night, three members of the State Election Board (SEB) called a meeting at 4 p.m. ET today, excluding some members. The three members who planned the meeting did not post any notice in official forums or on the SEB website. Georgia Open Meetings law requires a minimum of seven days' notice for any public meeting in which rulemaking is discussed.
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Cherokee County commissioners face decision on ousting Democratic board member
ATLANTA — Tonight at 6 p.m. ET, the Cherokee County Commissioners will vote on whether to remove one of its two Democratic board members. In response, Common Cause Georgia and other pro-voter organizations have sent letters to the Board of Commissioners, urging them to maintain the bipartisan composition of the board.
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Proposed rule changes by Georgia State Election Board may delay 2024 election results
On May 8, the Georgia State Election Board (SEB) voted to initiate new rule-making procedures that could potentially delay or interfere with the certification of the 2024 election. The SEB has been reviewing these proposals and decided to have members work on the rules and language for further consideration at the next meeting. For some proposals, the SEB voted to "Initiate Rule-Making" after making its own changes.
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New Georgia Law Criminalizes Bail Funds, Requires Cash Bonds
Last week, Georgia Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill (SB) 63 into law. This legislation criminalizes bail funds and necessitates cash bonds for over 30 offenses, including acts such as criminal trespassing. The new law significantly broadens the number of individuals required to post a cash bond for release from jail prior to appearing before a judge. It also slows down the process for release on misdemeanors and ordinances.
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New Anti-Voter Law Signed in Atlanta Raises Concerns
Governor Kemp of Atlanta recently signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 189, an omnibus elections bill combined with HB 976. The bill was expedited through the legislature at the last minute. This new law mandates that unhoused voters use the county registrars’ office as their mailing address, a requirement that may make it difficult for them to receive mail effectively.
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Governor Kemp signs SB 189; critics warn of voter barriers
Earlier this week, Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill (SB) 189 into law. This omnibus elections bill, combined with HB 976, was expedited through the legislature.
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Georgia legislative session ends with passage of two controversial election bills
The Georgia Legislative Session concluded with the passage of two controversial election bills.
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Georgia Legislature passes controversial bill extending commissioner terms
The Georgia Legislature has passed House Bill 1312, a measure that extends the re-election terms for Georgia Public Service commissioners by an additional two years.
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Georgia House Bill 976 raises concerns over potential election disruptions
The Georgia Legislature is set to vote on House Bill 976, which has sparked concern over its potential impact on elections in the state.
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Governor signs controversial prosecutorial oversight bill into law
Today, the governor of Georgia signed Senate Bill 332 into law.
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Common Cause Georgia opposes new election bill over voter registration concerns
The Senate Ethics Committee in Georgia recently reviewed Senate Bill 221, which proposes new requirements for voter registration, including the necessity for voters to have a permanent address.
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Common Cause Georgia criticizes approval of HB 881 impacting prosecutor oversight
Today, the Georgia House of Representatives approved House Bill 881, which provides details for a prosecutorial oversight commission established by Senate Bill 92 in 2023.
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Georgia voting maps fail to meet court-ordered requirements
In a special session, the Georgia General Assembly approved new congressional and state legislative voting maps.