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Civil rights groups demand count of every Georgia ballot

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The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund issued the following statement regarding the unresolved ballot crisis in Georgia, specifically the gubernatorial race between republican Brian Kemp and democrat Stacey Abrams:

“This election presented Georgia voters with unnecessary and manufactured obstacles to the ballot, including voter purges, poll closures, long lines, and broken machines – all of which disproportionately harmed communities of color. The state also attempted to block 53,000 registration applications, most of which were from African Americans, a community too familiar with systemic barriers to voting.

“At every turn, the civil rights community has fought these attempts to silence voters – including successful litigation brought by the Lawyers’ Committee and advocacy efforts by NAACP LDF to monitor and keep voting precincts open to allow residents to vote. We urge officials to ensure every ballot is counted. Voters must know that our elections are free, fair, and equally accessible to all. This is not just about Georgia; if voters cannot trust that their voices will be heard, then the system has failed them.”

Officials with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund stressed this week that there is still time to ensure that all votes cast in Georgia are counted. Voters who chose to cast a provisional ballot were required to provide their required information, identification, or proof of citizenship to their county registrar’s office by 5 p.m. EST Nov. 9 to ensure their vote is counted.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination.  Now in its 55th year, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is continuing its quest to “Move America Toward Justice.” The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and voting rights. Learn more at Lawyerscommittee.org.

Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization and has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF.

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