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Secretary of State Kemp Applauds Governor Perdue’s Decision to Seek Federal Court Approval of Voter Registration Procedures

For Immediate Release May 19, 2010	FFI Contact: Matt Carrothers Director of Media Relations 404-656-4269

Secretary of State Kemp Applauds Governor Perdue’s Decision to Seek Federal Court Approval of Voter Registration Procedures Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp today applauded Governor Perdue’s decision to appoint a special attorney general to obtain federal court approval of two election procedures that will ensure that Georgia’s voter registration rolls contain only eligible voters. By Executive Order, Governor Perdue appointed Anne W. Lewis, a partner in the firm of Strickland Brockington Lewis LLP, to serve as Special Attorney General. Lewis serves as a Special Assistant Attorney General in lawsuits challenging the State’s voter ID law and previously represented voters in both a preclearance action and a constitutional challenge related to the State’s 2001 redistricting plans. Governor Perdue also appointed attorneys Frank B. Strickland, partner of Strickland Brockington Lewis LLP, and Bryan P. Tyson, associate of Strickland Brockington Lewis LLP, as deputy Special Attorneys General. The two procedures – the voter verification process and Senate Bill 86 – allow the State to ensure that voter registration applicants are who they say they are and that applicants are U.S. citizens. Georgia must obtain federal preclearance of any change affecting voting by bringing a declaratory judgment action in federal court or, in the alternative, by submitting the change to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for administrative preclearance. In February, the DOJ denied administrative preclearance of the State’s voter verification process, contending that a decision could not be made without additional information. However, all of the additional information sought by the DOJ had been provided previously, some of it on numerous occasions throughout the last year. In April, Secretary of State Kemp announced that he would work with Governor Perdue to pursue preclearance of Georgia’s voter verification process and Senate Bill 86 in federal court. Secretary Kemp noted today, “Fair and free elections form the foundation of our state and country. Unfortunately, Georgia remains the only state in the country barred from complying with the federal Help America Vote Act’s voter verification process. I am proud that we are taking this step to protect the integrity, security and fairness of Georgia’s elections.” Background: Voter verification process Under federal law (the Help America Vote Act, or HAVA), states are required to verify the information provided by first time voter registration applicants with information currently on file in state or federal databases. In Georgia, the applicant’s first name, last name, date of birth, driver’s license number and the last four digits of his or her Social Security Number are verified with the Department of Driver Services (DDS) or Social Security Administration databases to ensure that the information matches. Senate Bill 86 SB 86 was signed into law in May 2009 and requires those registering to vote to submit one of several forms of proof of United States citizenship with their application. Applicants may use a driver’s license number, birth certificate, U.S. passport, U.S. naturalization documents or alien registration number, Bureau of Indian Affairs card, as well as other documents. SB 86 is modeled after a similar law in Arizona, which the DOJ precleared. Brian Kemp was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2010. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum. ### Original Article here

Posted by Tim Fleming in News Releases on 5/19/2010

Kemp Praises Support of Elected Officials

Published Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Kemp praises support from elected officials
By Jeff Bishop

The Times-Herald

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp told supporters Tuesday morning in Newnan that he feels good about the backing he's getting around the state as the July primary date nears.

"I'm so humbled to have folks like you all who have gotten on board with us early," he told local supporters, including Arthur B. "Skin" Edge, former state senator, and current State Representatives Lynn Smith, Billy Horne, and Sen. Mitch Seabaugh. Kemp spoke at a breakfast at Ten East Washington restaurant in Newnan.

"We've had a lot of strong, early support from a lot of elected officials from all over the state," in every county, said Kemp, who was recently appointed to his position by Gov. Sonny Perdue when Karen Handel resigned to run for governor full-time.

"We're getting our message out," Kemp said.

The message is that "we need common sense in government," Kemp said. His background as a small business owner has given him plenty of real-world experience when it comes to trimming budgets and remaining accountable, he said.

Kemp said that he voluntarily cut his own salary and streamlined operations at the Secretary of State's operations to cut millions from the office's budget.

"We reduced our budget by $3 million, out of a $26 million budget," said Kemp. "We're looking to save another half a million in 2011."

Government has to be willing to make the same tough choices American households are facing in times of economic uncertainty, he said.

"We're not only going to save money, but also make our office that much more efficient," said Kemp. "We continue to look at ways to do more with less."

Technology is providing one way for the secretary of state's office to offer more and better services for less money, he said. One example is this week's election to fill the seat of Congressman Nathan Deal in North Georgia. A bar code scanner is being used to examine driver's licenses, "and the information immediately pops up," he said.

"This is saving us 15 to 20 seconds per person," said Kemp. For small elections that may not add up to much, but for the next presidential election the cumulative difference in wait times will be enormous, he said.

"You can imagine how that's going to speed up the process," said Kemp.

On the secretary of state's Web site, absentee ballots can be tracked and sample ballots can be found. Georgians can even find their voting precinct.

"It's a great way to educate the voters without spending a lot of money," he said. Thirty-five state licenses are now renewable online, said Kemp, "and we should have 50 by the end of the year."

The secretary of state's office "handles a lot of the business functions of government," Kemp said. "We regulate securities, run the state archives, and work with business people every day."

He said that it's important to focus on the needs of business and economic development, because "with 10 percent unemployment, we need all hands on deck."

Kemp said he's particularly interested in finding ways to meet the needs of existing industries in Georgia.

"Sometimes we forget about the existing businesses we have here," he said. "We need to cut the red tape for them, when we can. We have to get outdated regulations out of the way, when we can do it without hurting consumer protections or the environment."

Kemp said that he is a respected former state senator who understands how the legislative process works. In fact, he said, he successfully managed to pass legislation to ease the voting process for military personnel serving overseas.

"It's important that every one of their votes gets counted," he said.

Kemp said he is the type of secretary of state who "listens to what the people need," and he is committed to doing just that.

"People want leaders who do what they say they are going to do," said Kemp. "We are implementing these things, and with your help, we are going to continue to do that for the next four years."

Original Article found here

Posted by Tim Fleming in News Releases on 5/12/2010