Voter Eligibility Challenges in Metro Atlanta: Thousands Filed, Most Rejected as Quiet Period Begins

ATLANTA: Voter Eligibility Challenges and the Impact on Metro Areas

Metro Atlanta counties have made a significant decision regarding voter eligibility challenges. Since July, over 45,000 voter eligibility challenges have been filed by conservative activists, but county elections boards have rejected almost all of them. The sheer number of rejected challenges is remarkable, especially considering it is nearly four times the margin of victory in the 2020 presidential race in Georgia.

This decision comes at an important time as boards enter a mandated 45-day quiet period starting this week. This quiet period, complying with federal guidelines, means that no new challenges can be heard through the rest of the election cycle. This provides some respite to voters and election officials alike, who were previously inundated with these challenges.

Breaking Down the Numbers

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution gathered data from four key metro Atlanta counties—Gwinnett, Fulton, Cobb, and DeKalb. Out of the staggering number of challenges, only fewer than 50 voters had their registrations removed. The challengers assert that their primary motive is to clean the voter rolls of outdated registrations that could potentially lead to voter fraud. These concerns have been amplified by former President Donald Trump’s claims of widespread election fraud, which have been disproven through recounts, investigations, and court cases.

Debate Over Impact and Legitimacy

Left-leaning voting rights advocates argue that these mass challenges are unfair and could prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots. Hani Mirza, an attorney for a civil rights organization, referred to these challenges as “incredibly dangerous.” According to Mirza, the data used in these challenges, such as that from EagleAI—a Republican-backed startup—can be questionable.

Mirza pointed out the burden these mass challenges place on county resources. For instance, Cobb County had to pass the cost of notifying voters to the individuals lodging the challenges. Last year, Georgia’s election officials canceled 189,000 inactive voter registrations, demonstrating that the state already has a process in place for maintaining the voter rolls.

Recent Developments in Gwinnett County

Just last week, the Gwinnett County elections board dismissed another challenge aimed at removing five voters. The decision was made along party lines in a 3-2 vote. Loretta Mirandola, a Democrat on the Gwinnett elections board, emphasized that upholding the challenge would violate a federal quiet period for making changes to the county’s voter rolls. Federal law mandates that voter rolls be “cleaned” no later than 90 days before a federal election. But the new state law, Senate Bill 189, which went into effect on July 1, has created a bit of a grey area.

The Role of Recent Election Laws

Senate Bill 189 allows conservatives or any registered voter to challenge the eligibility of an unlimited number of voters within the same county. If the challenger proves that a voter moved, registered in a new jurisdiction, registered at a nonresidential address, or died, the registration could be removed. This builds on a 2021 state statute that also aimed at empowering individual voters to contest other voters’ eligibility.

Since 2020, more than 350,000 voter challenges have been submitted, though almost all (including the recent 45,000) have been dismissed by county election officials.

Looking Ahead

As we approach a critical election cycle, these developments highlight the ongoing tensions and efforts to balance voter integrity and accessibility. For voters and officials in Metro Atlanta, the 45-day quiet period offers much-needed temporary relief from the deluge of challenges.

Beyond that, how the balance between ensuring accurate voter rolls and preventing potential disenfranchisement plays out will remain an essential aspect of the broader conversation around voter rights and election integrity.