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Posts from February 2010

Secretary of State Kemp Announces Intent to File Suit against Obama Justice Department

Secretary of State Kemp Announces Intent to File Suit against Obama Justice Department

Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has again failed to administratively preclear the State of Georgia’s submission of its voter verification process. As a result, the State will exercise its right to seek preclearance of the voter verification process by bringing an action for a declaratory judgment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act requires certain states and jurisdictions, including Georgia, to obtain permission from the federal government prior to enforcing any change affecting any practice or procedure with respect to voting. The State may seek such "preclearance" of a change affecting voting by filing suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or by submitting the change to the DOJ.

“The State of Georgia will no longer watch the Obama Justice Department play politics with our election processes and protections. The Justice Department is denying Georgia’s legal requirement to verify the information provided by new voter registration applicants,” said Secretary Kemp.

Georgia implemented the voter verification process in April 2007 at the direction of the DOJ in order to comply with requirements in the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA). However, since the 2008 Presidential election, the Justice Department has twice prevented further use of the process.

Given the DOJ’s actions with respect to Georgia's implementation of the voter verification process, Secretary Kemp will ask Attorney General Thurbert Baker to bring a similar declaratory judgment action for preclearance of Senate Bill 86, signed into law in May 2009. Senate Bill 86 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.

Secretary Kemp added, “The voter verification process and Senate Bill 86 are common sense measures to ensure voter registration applicants are who they say they are, and that applicants are U.S. citizens.”

Senate Bill 86 was modeled after a similar law in Arizona, which has already received Section 5 preclearance.

Secretary Kemp has asked Attorney General Thurbert Baker to appoint a Special Assistant Attorney General to represent the State in the legal proceedings.
Background:
The voter verification process checks five criteria provided by first time applicants by mail who do not provide identification with the application with information in the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) database or the Social Security Administration database. These criteria include first name, last name, date of birth, driver’s license number and the last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number. Additionally, if the applicant previously reported to DDS that he or she is not a U.S. citizen, that person is asked by their county registrar to provide proof of citizenship.

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.

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Posted by Tim Fleming in News Releases on 2/24/2010

Secretary of State Kemp Announces Legislation to Implement Secure Online Voter Registration

Secretary of State Kemp Announces Legislation to Implement Secure Online Voter Registration

(Athens) – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s campaign announced today his support of legislation that will implement a secure online voter registration system for Georgia citizens. The system would allow any eligible voter registration applicant with a Georgia driver’s license or state identification card to register to vote through a secure network on the Secretary of State’s website.

“This common sense, secure online voter registration initiative will utilize technology to increase citizen access to elections, save Georgia taxpayer dollars, and prevent voter registration fraud,” Secretary Kemp said.

The secure online voter registration legislation SB406 system will verify the information provided by the applicant with information on record at the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). The State’s voter registration system already receives information electronically from DDS when individuals register to vote at DDS customer service centers. Additionally, secure online voter registration will increase accuracy by removing the possibility of data entry errors.

Secure online voter registration has proven to be popular and cost effective in the states that already utilize it. Currently, nine other states have or will be implementing comparable secure online voter registration systems. At least seven other states have similar legislation pending.

The secure online voter registration legislation marks the third major election initiative supported this year by Secretary Kemp. Previously, Secretary Kemp announced two new initiatives specifically aimed at increasing election participation by Georgia’s approximately 200,000 military personnel and civilians stationed or living overseas.

Campaign Contact Information

Brian Kemp for Secretary of State
P.O. Box 5187
Athens, GA 30604
www.KempMeansBusiness.com
brian@votebriankemp.com
706-543-0188

Paid for by Brian Kemp for Secretary of State

Posted by Tim Fleming in News Releases on 2/12/2010

Secretary of State Kemp Announces Major Endorsements from Sandy Springs And Fulton County Leaders

News Release

February 4^th, 2010 Contact: Tim Fleming

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 706.543.0188

Secretary of State Kemp Announces Major Endorsements from Sandy Springs

And Fulton County Leaders

(Athens) – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s campaign announced today that it has received endorsements from numerous Sandy Springs and Fulton County leaders, including Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos, Councilwoman Ashley Jenkins and Councilman Chip Collins. The campaign also received endorsements from Fulton County State Representatives Chuck Martin and Tom Rice.

These elected leaders join hundreds of other state and local officials from across the state who have pledged their support to Secretary Kemp. In the coming months, the Kemp for Secretary of State campaign will announce additional endorsements highlighting support from leaders in communities throughout Georgia.

“I applaud my fellow members of the Sandy Springs community and colleagues in the House for lending their endorsement to Secretary Kemp,” said State Rep. Joe Wilkinson (R – Sandy Springs), Chairman of the House Ethics Committee and an early Kemp for Secretary of State supporter. “As a small business owner, former State Senator and now as Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brian has the leadership and experience required to help Georgia’s businesses grow and create jobs, protect taxpayer dollars and ensure fair and secure elections.”

“I am humbled to receive the endorsement of Sandy Springs Mayor Galambos, members of Sandy Springs City Council, and additional members of the Georgia House,” said Secretary Kemp. “Our grassroots campaign of cutting the red tape of bureaucracy for Georgia businesses, budget transparency, and protecting the integrity of our elections continues to resonate with voters and elected officials across our great State.”

In January, Secretary Kemp announced that he had recruited a statewide grassroots organization that includes at least one grassroots leader in each of Georgia’s 159 counties. Kemp has personally travelled over 30,000 miles to every corner of Georgia to build this solid campaign foundation.

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Posted by Tim Fleming in News Releases on 2/5/2010

Sec. Kemp supports Legislation to Increase Ballot Access for Military and Overseas Voters

Secretary of State Kemp Announces Support of Legislation to Increase Ballot Access for Military and Overseas Voters

Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp today announced his support of legislation to strengthen Georgia’s compliance with the federal Military and Overseas Voters Empowerment Act , or MOVE Act. This legislation will increase ballot access for the approximately 200,000 Georgians living or stationed overseas.

The bill HB 1073 was introduced by Rep. John Meadows (R – Calhoun), a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. The bill is designed to ensure that military and overseas voters receive their ballots in sufficient time to be able to return them and have them counted. Among the bill’s features is a requirement that absentee ballots must be sent to military and overseas voters 45 days prior to a general primary or general election; increased access to absentee ballots for an entire election cycle; and allowing military and overseas voters to receive a blank absentee ballot electronically.

“I’m proud to support and help implement these new requirements, which utilize available technology to increase ballot access and election participation for Georgia’s military and civilians stationed and living overseas,” said Secretary Kemp.

Rep. Meadows said, “I want to thank Secretary of State Kemp for his dedication to increasing opportunities for Georgia’s military members and overseas citizens to vote. This common sense legislation strengthens our commitment to our men and women in uniform, and ensures that their voice will be heard on Election Day.”

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.

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Posted by Tim Fleming in News Releases on 2/4/2010