Judge declines to toss suits challenging Georgia voting law
ATLANTA – A federal judge has rejected motions to dismiss eight lawsuits challenging Georgia’s sweeping new election law.
Georgia’s law is one of many approved by Republican-led legislatures after former President Donald Trump and his allies pushed unfounded claims that widespread fraud cost him the 2020 election. Democrats, voting rights groups and other critics say it infringes on the rights of voters and will disproportionately disenfranchise people of color.
State officials reject that criticism, saying Georgia’s election laws are reasonable, don’t discriminate and are in line with election laws around the country.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee issued orders Thursday allowing all eight lawsuits to proceed, and said that since they mostly involve the same defendants,
facts and legal issues, he may consolidate them, at least for discovery purposes.
Boulee, a Trump appointee, rejected arguments that the plaintiffs didn’t have the right to sue, hadn’t stated any particular harm suffered or hadn’t justified the relief they’re seeking.
State officials vowed to keep fighting.