Atlanta, Georgia, October 22, 2018 — “We are pleased to have the opportunity to argue this important case concerning the sacred, constitutional right to vote,” stated Sean J. Young, Legal Director of the ACLU of Georgia and lead attorney in the case. “We look forward to a fair resolution that will protect voter rights for all Georgia citizens, because voting is the cornerstone of our democracy.”

Who
Andrea Young, Executive Director, ACLU of Georgia
Sean Young, Legal Director, ACLU of Georgia
Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur, President of the Board of Directors, Georgia Muslim Voter Project
Stephanie Cho, Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta
Phi Nguyen, Litigation Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta

What
Press conference immediately following federal court proceeding challenging Georgia’s signature-match law

Court will take place
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
1:00p.m.
Courtroom 2107

Where
Steps of the Richard B. Russell Federal Building

When
Press Conference immediately following court.

Why
The ACLU of Georgia, representing Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta and the Georgia Muslim Voter Project, had filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order that would provide due process to absentee voters whose ballots are rejected due to an alleged signature mismatch.

As the lawsuit explains, “[a] person’s signature … may vary for a variety of reasons, both intentional and unintentional. Unintentional factors include age, physical and mental condition, disability, medication, stress, accidents, and inherent differences in a person’s neuromuscular coordination and stance. Variants are more prevalent in people who are older, disabled, or who speak English as a second language.”

Specifically, the lawsuit asks the court to require elections officials to provide absentee voters the opportunity to confirm their identity or otherwise resolve the alleged discrepancy.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta is the first and only nonprofit legal advocacy organization dedicated to the civil rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) in Georgia and the Southeast. We work in five major program areas: Civic Engagement, Direct Legal Services, Impact Litigation, Leadership Development, and Policy Advocacy. We work to defend of rights for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and other underserved communities.