Latest news with #BradRaffensperger
Axios
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Georgia to cut nearly 480,000 names from voter rolls
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger plans to remove nearly 480,000 names from Georgia's voter rolls before the end of summer. Why it matters: Purges are necessary maintenance to secure the integrity of elections and use reputable government data to create the removal list, proponents like Raffensperger argue. Yes, but: Critics like the Brennan Center for Justice agree that the rolls should be accurate. But they say the deletions too often remove eligible voters — particularly young and minority voters or people who move frequently. How it works: Raffensperger is sending cancellation mailers to 477,883 registered "inactive" voters, meaning they did not cast a ballot for both the 2022 and 2024 general elections. Those voters, he said in a press release, have already received letters notifying them of their inactive status. Voters with pending cancellations have 40 days to update their registration by using the My Voter Page, completing and returning a provided postcard, or submitting a new voter registration application. What they're saying:"Georgia's voter rolls are the cleanest in the nation thanks to the diligent partnerships we've made to secure our elections," Raffensperger said. "Clean voter rolls mean clean elections. My promise to Georgia voters is elections that are free, fair, and fast – and we're doing just that." The other side: Critics of Georgia's "use it or lose it" voter registration rules, which were upheld 5-4 by the U.S. Supreme Court shortly before the 2018 midterms, say the restrictions punish people for not doing something. According to American Public Media, then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp's more than 500,000-voter purge the previous year booted tens of thousands of eligible voters. By the numbers: According to the secretary of state's office, the list of voters now facing removal includes: 180,473 people who moved out of state, according to the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) 87,027 voters who filed a change of address, according to the U.S. Postal Service 105,848 people who have not cast a ballot, updated their registration or responded to mail from election officials 104,535 records of people whose mail from county election officials was returned undeliverable Zoom out: Raffensperger is also informing people who use a P.O. box or business as their voter registration address to update their records with a residential address or get kicked off the voter roll.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia's annual audit of state voter rolls now underway
The Brief On Tuesday, Georgia Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger announced a multiphase audit of Georgia's voter rolls will occur throughout July, August and September 2025. The multiple stages will encompass traditional list maintenance practices and new procedures developed to ensure the integrity of Georgia's voter registration lists. The first phase will include mailings to inactive voters in accordance with state and federal law to move them to canceled status. ATLANTA - On Tuesday, the Secretary of State's Office announced the launch of its annual audit of Georgia's voter rolls. State officials are performing the annual review this summer, ahead of this year's statewide election. "We have the Public Service Commission race that'll be coming up in the fall, which is, you know, a big statewide race. And then you have all your municipals this year, and then next year will be statewide. So this is a continuous process," Georgia Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger told FOX 5. Raffensperger said they'll spend the next three months ensuring Georgia's voting records are up-to-date. "That's part of our list maintenance," Raffensperger said. "A few weeks ago, we did our first phase of that. We identified over 400,000 people that are no longer here in Georgia." Inactive voters will be notified by mail to begin the process of moving them from the rolls. Officials will audit voters who haven't cast a ballot in the past five years. The state will use traditional list maintenance practices and new procedures to verify voter status: Auditors will compare data from the U.S. Postal Service, other states' voter rolls and Georgia's Department of Driver's Services. They'll also use a new tool to verify residential addresses, in an effort to keep Georgia's voter registration rolls accurate and secure. "It all starts at the top, you know," Raffensperger explained. "Making sure that you have good data, good addresses, good residential addresses for everyone who's registered in the state of Georgia." The Source Deidra Dukes spoke with Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger about the voter roll audit. Additional state resources were also consulted.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GA Secretary of State announces audit of voter rolls
An audit of Georgia's voter rolls will happen over the next several months. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said the multiple stages of the audit will include traditional list maintenance, as well as new procedures developed to ensure the integrity of Georgia's voter registration lists. 'There are no 'off-years' in keeping elections secure,' said Raffensperger. 'We will have a statewide election this year, and a general election in 2026. We will use this period over the Summer of 2025 to take every step to maintain the accuracy of Georgia's voter registration lists.' The first phase of the audit will include mailings to inactive voters to move them to canceled status. The office will audit any voters without activity in the last five years. The audit will also check for voters who may have moved by comparing data from the US Postal Service, other states' voter lists, and lists from the Department of Drivers' Services. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Man drowns after jumping into Chattahoochee River to rescue child Georgia special tax refunds: When will most eligible taxpayers receive their checks? Delta flight leaving Atlanta loses piece of wing in North Carolina driveway [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
CE Broker by Propelus Joins Forces With Georgia Secretary of State's Office to Transform Continuing Education Management
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / June 17, 2025 / CE Broker by Propelus, a trusted leader in continuing education compliance for more than 20 years, and the Georgia Secretary of State's Office announced their strategic partnership to transform continuing education management in Georgia. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in transforming continuing education management for more than 400,000 licensed professionals in Georgia, streamlining departmental processes to improve efficiency and provide more user-centric government tools to support licensure compliance, and ultimately better meet the needs of the state's professionals. 'It's extremely important to my office that we keep Georgia's licensed professionals up-to-date on their licensing needs while ensuring that licensure compliance never gets in the way of letting them do their jobs,' said Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. 'The CE Broker solution from Propelus will keep Georgia's hardworking professionals in compliance with their specific industry requirements and let them know that my office means business.' CE Broker and the Georgia Secretary of State's Office have formed a partnership to modernize the continuing education experience for Georgia's professionals. With CE Broker's innovative solution, professionals will be able to effortlessly track their continuing education requirements for licensure renewal, quickly identifying any gaps and streamlining the entire renewal process. This collaboration is set to simplify the management of renewal requirements, equipping professionals with the tools they need to efficiently and effortlessly manage their licensing obligations. This partnership aligns with and complements Senate Bill 125, recently passed during the 2025 Georgia legislative session and signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp on May 9, 2025. Under this new law, all licensed professionals will be required to submit proof of continuing education completion prior to license renewal. This change is designed to improve government efficiency, strengthen public protection, and promote safer services across communities in Georgia. 'We commend the Georgia Secretary of State's Office for its ongoing commitment to innovation and the modernization of key processes,' said Julie Walker, CEO of Propelus. 'This collaboration reflects our mutual dedication to enhancing public safety, empowering licensed professionals, and promoting access to high-quality services for the citizens of Georgia through effective licensure, regulation, and education.' The integration of the CE Broker solution into the GOALS licensing system, a Salesforce solution, is set to begin in June 2025. The Georgia Secretary of State's Office will notify professionals via email when access to CE Broker becomes available. At that time, professionals can create their accounts at using their Georgia license credentials. Those who already have a CE Broker account in another state will be able to easily add Georgia to their profile once it's available, allowing them to report continuing education across multiple jurisdictions. For more information about CE Broker, visit About CE Broker by Propelus As part of Propelus, CE Broker is modernizing how professionals, their employers, regulators, and associations work better together. For over 20 years, CE Broker has propelled the progress of millions of dedicated professionals along the career journey through its full-lifecycle continuing education management solution. Leveraging innovative technology, essential data, and unparalleled strategic partnerships, we power critical compliance programs for a happier workforce, better operations, and safer communities. Learn more about CE Broker, powered by Propelus, at: Contact InformationStephanie Pavol Sr. Marketing Director SOURCE: Propelus press release
Associated Press
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Judge disqualifies Democrat Daniel Blackman from Georgia Public Service Commission primary
ATLANTA (AP) — Votes won't count for Democrat Daniel Blackman in the June 17 primary election for Georgia Public Service Commission after a judge ruled Tuesday that Blackman hadn't proved that he had lived in Fulton County for the required year before the general election in November. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville issued an earlier temporary order that kept Blackman on the ballot after Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had disqualified him. But after a hearing on Tuesday, Glanville ruled from the bench that Raffensperger's ruling had been correct. Blackman can appeal, but if he loses, any votes cast for him will not be counted in the District 3 Democratic primary for the utility regulator. Three other Democrats — Peter Hubbard, Robert Jones and Keisha Waites — are also seeking their party's nomination to oppose Republican Fitz Johnson in November. In Public Service Commission elections, voters statewide choose each of the five commissioners. But the commissioners themselves must live in particular districts. District 3 includes Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties. Blackman says he moved from Forsyth County to a southwest Atlanta apartment in October 2024, while his wife and children remained in the northern Atlanta suburb. But Glanville, ruling from the bench, said Blackman didn't do enough to prove he had truly moved, noting he didn't transfer his voter registration to Fulton County until April. 'The court is of the opinion that the secretary's decision did, in fact, properly apply Georgia law,' Glanville said during an online hearing. 'The final decision properly considered the petitioners failure to update his voter registration until April of 2025.' Glanville said he hoped to enter a written order as soon as Wednesday. Blackman could appeal after that. A lawyer for Blackman did not immediately respond to a request for a statement after the hearing. Signs warning voters that Blackman has been disqualified will be posted in polling places as soon as Glanville makes a written order, said Robert Sinners, a spokesperson for Raffensperger. Turnout in the election is likely to be very low, but thousands of votes for Blackman could still be discarded. Through Monday, more than 25,000 people had voted in the Democratic primary. Early voting ends Friday, with Election Day on June 17. Blackman lost a 2020 race for the commission and was appointed by President Joe Biden as southern region administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. A Republican primary will also be decided June 17, with Lee Muns of Harlem challenging incumbent Commissioner Tim Echols of Hoschton. Echols has been on the Public Service Commission since 2011. The winner will face Democrat Alicia Johnson in November. All five commissioners are currently Republicans.
