In July 2016, Project Vote filed a lawsuit against Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brian Kemp, over his refusal to release public records relating to rejected voter registration applications. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, alleges that Kemp, in his capacity as the state’s Chief Elections Officer, has violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by refusing to release voter registration records.
The NVRA requires the public disclosure of voter registration records. Investigating concerns stemming from reports coming out of the 2014 election cycle, Project Vote made good faith requests to Kemp’s office to provide records that would explain why applicants were rejected, canceled, or otherwise kept off the rolls. Two years later, after lengthy negotiations—and despite repeated promises from the state—those records had still not been produced.
Project Vote’s lawsuit asks the court to intervene and compel Kemp’s office to comply, so the group can perform the critical public oversight functions envisioned by NVRA.
Project Vote is represented pro bono by the law firms Ropes & Gray and Caplan Cobb.
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Project Vote v. Kemp: Plaintiff’s Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss
Plaintiff’s opposition to defendant’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. Read more
Project Vote v. Kemp: Defendant’s Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss
Defendant Kemp’s brief in support of his motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. Read more
Project Vote v. Kemp: Answer and Defenses
Answer and defenses in Project Vote v. Kemp. Read more
Gov. Deal Asked to Ensure Voters Are Free From Intimidation at the Polls
R. Robin McDonald writes about our letter to Gov. Deal asking him to take action to protect Georgia voters from intimidation at the polls. Read more
Judge orders release of Georgia’s rejected voter records
"We are pleased that the court has recognized the merits of this case, and has ordered the prompt release of records," said Michelle Kanter Cohen, election counsel for Project Vote. "Decisions about who is and is not able to register to vote must be made in the open for our democracy to be fair and accessible." Read more
Judge Orders Ga. Secretary of State to Release Rejected Voter Records
James Cobb, an attorney at Atlanta's Caplan Cobb who is co-counsel on the case, called Duffey's order "an important acknowledgment of the right of groups like Project Vote—and of all of Georgia's citizens—to monitor the state's voter-registration practices." Read more
Judge orders Georgia to release database records on voter registration
A federal judge has ordered Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp to release more detailed public records about why the state decides to reject applicants trying to register to vote... Read more
In a Victory for Voters, Court Orders Georgia’s Secretary of State to Release Voter Registration Records
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ruled that a federal lawsuit to ensure the transparency of Georgia's voter registration records will proceed, and that the state must release certain records under the NVRA. Read more
Project Vote v. Kemp: Order on PI and Motion to Dismiss
Court order on plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction and defendants' motion to dismiss. Read more
Project Vote v. Kemp: Defendant’s reply in support of motion to dismiss
Defendant Kemp’s reply brief in support of motion to dismiss. Read more