Filed Date: June 25, 2021
Case Ongoing
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The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") filed suit against the state of Georgia, the Georgia Secretary of State, and the Georgia State Election Board over voting procedures adopted by Georgia Senate Bill 202 (SB 202) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on June 25, 2021.
DOJ alleged that SB 202 provisions violated the Voting Rights Act. SB 202 included restrictions on mailing, requesting, and submitting absentee ballots and prohibited distributing food and water to voters waiting in line to cast their ballots and counting out-of-precinct provisional ballots unless they are cast after 5 pm on Election Day. DOJ argued that Georgia made these changes with knowledge of the disproportionate effect they would have on Black voters and in response to recent increases in Black Georgians' use of absentee voting, voter mobilization efforts, and success in electing candidates of choice. The DOJ sought declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent defendants from enforcing SB 202 as well as Federal observers and subjecting Georgia to a preclearance requirement under the Voting Rights Act sections 3(a),(c).
On March 31, 2025, Attorney General Bondi directed the DOJ to dismiss all claims in In Re Georgia Senate Bill 202. The attorney general claimed that:
"Contrary to the Biden Administration’s false claims of suppression, Black voter turnout actually increased under SB 202. . . Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us. Americans can be confident that this Department of Justice will protect their vote and never play politics with election integrity.”
The Trump administration accused the case of being weaponized litigation that cost the state over $100 million in economic loss.
According to the docket, the case remains ongoing.
Summary Authors
Anna Lennon (10/28/2022)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60015129/parties/united-states-v-the-state-of-georgia/
Boulee, Jean-Paul (Georgia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60015129/united-states-v-the-state-of-georgia/
Last updated Dec. 1, 2025, 3:19 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Reversing Course on Existing Litigation
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 25, 2021
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
The Georgia State Election Board, State
Georgia Secretary of State, State
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Voting Rights Act, section 2, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973)
Voting Rights Act, unspecified, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 et seq (previously 42 U.S.C § 1973 et seq.)
Other Dockets:
Northern District of Georgia 1:21-cv-02575
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Race(s):
Voting: