Politics and Current
Georgia Judge Blocks NAACP Post-Contest Hand Count Rule
In a key decision, Judge Robert McBurney of Fulton County, Georgia, ruled in favor of the NAACP’s demand to finish its controversial recent “vote count rule.”
Rule proposed by the Georgia State Board of Elections would require after the November 5 election, ballots might be counted manually. The NAACP and its partners filed a motion to intervene, arguing that the rule was an try to undermine the electoral process.
This ruling was a serious victory for this long-standing organization, which is involved in quite a few electoral processes across the country. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, but emphasized that the fight for voting rights isn’t over.
“The NAACP is proud that this judge follows the law and issues a ruling consistent with the National Voting Rights Act,” Johnson said Black enterprise. “But don’t be fooled, this is not the end. Across the country, radicalized politicians are trying to subvert the law to suppress votes. We will not stop until every vote is counted and every voice is heard.”
Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP, agreed.
“Yesterday’s historic early voter turnout and this important ruling should serve as a reminder – nothing will stop the Black vote. The Georgia Conference of the NAACP works tirelessly to educate, engage and mobilize our community while protecting our access to the ballot box. This year is no different.”
The ruling comes because the NAACP continues its legal battle in multiple states, with three lawsuits pending in Georgia. To secure voting rights, the organization committed $20 million to mobilize greater than 14.5 million voters ahead of the election.
The timing of the court’s decision underscores the importance of protecting democratic processes amid growing concerns about voter suppression tactics. As the nation prepares for the 2024 elections, the NAACP stays a frontrunner in defending the rights of Black voters and ensuring fair elections across the country.