DOJ approves proof of citizenship requirement for voter registration
The Justice Department has approved Georgia's law that requires new voter registration applicants to show proof they are U.S. citizens, Secretary of State Brian Kemp said Monday.
The law is "a common-sense enhancement" that will prevent voter fraud, Kemp said. The law, enacted in 2009, allows first-time applicants to provide one of a number of documents to prove citizenship, including a Georgia driver's license, a Georgia identification card, a U.S. passport, a birth certificate and U.S. naturalization documents.
The federal Voting Rights Act requires Georgia and other states with a history of discrimination to get changes in voting procedures “precleared” by the Justice Department or the U.S. District Court in Washington.
The state filed a federal lawsuit in November to obtain approval of the law. After the Justice Department recently said it determined the law did not have a discriminatory effect or purpose and would consent to its approval, the state dismissed the suit, the Secretary of State's Office said.
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
