State Representative Arlene Beckles (D-Norcross) has released a statement addressing concerns about the recent effort to remove around 480,000 ‘inactive’ voters from Georgia’s voter rolls. Beckles explained her decision to send a letter to the Georgia Secretary of State seeking details on how these voters are identified and removed.
“Transparency and trust in the electoral process are paramount to sustaining a healthy democracy. I have heard from my constituents who are concerned about reports of nearly half a million Georgians being removed from our voter rolls due to ‘inactive’ status. As a duly elected representative, I have a responsibility to ensure my constituents’ rights are not jeopardized by administrative procedures that may be unclear or inconsistently applied.
That is why I sent a letter to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office requesting specific details about the criteria used to define an inactive voter, the timeline and communication methods being used to notify impacted voters on their pending removal, the procedures in place for voters to confirm, update or restore their registration status and any safeguards being put into place to protect voters from exclusion. My goal is not only to ensure every eligible voter understands the process and can act if needed, but I also want to dispel misinformation and demonstrate that the Georgia Secretary of State’s office is operating transparently. I believe that clear communication and accountability are essential for maintaining confidence in our elections, and I encourage my constituents to use the information provided by the secretary of state to gain a better understanding of Georgia’s voting process.”
Beckles has included both her letter and the response from the Georgia Secretary of State for public review.
Jon G. Burns was elected as a Republican representative for Georgia’s 159th House District in 2005, succeeding Ray Holland.
