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).
As of October 2022, litigation is 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 March 11, 2025, 10:53 a.m.
State / Territory: Georgia
Case Type(s):
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.)
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Race(s):
Voting: