The federal government has sent a letter to Georgia officials saying the
state’s schedule for runoff elections violates federal law on military
and overseas absentee ballots and threatening a lawsuit if the matter
isn’t resolved quickly. U.S. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez on June 15 sent the letter
to Attorney General Sam Olens and Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Olens’
office declined to comment on the letter, but Kemp said the state is in
the middle of the primary election and doesn’t intend to make changes
suggested by federal officials.
The Georgia Secretary of State was not happy with the late lawsuit over the potential runoff.
…”If the DOJ was earnest, they would have previously contacted us
about their concerns rather than sending a notice of a lawsuit a month
before the primary election,” Kemp said.
“Currently ballots have been printed and absentee voters (military
and overseas included) are voting, while the DOJ is attempting to twist
the state’s arm into agreeing to a consent decree, the terms of which
would place unnecessary stresses on the elections administration
process, before even filing the lawsuit,” Kemp said.
DOJ hasn’t previously raised concerns about Georgia’s ability to send
out absentee ballots to military and overseas voters and in 2005
approved the state’s timing for run-off elections after the state’s Legislature changed prior election laws following a DOJ complaint, Kemp said.
Link to Associated Press.