Latest news with #TruetheVote
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal judge signals support for reviving voter lawsuit in Georgia
The Brief A federal appeals panel signaled it may revive a lawsuit accusing True the Vote of violating the Voting Rights Act by challenging over 360,000 Georgia voters ahead of the 2021 Senate runoff. Judges questioned a lower court's ruling that found no attempted voter intimidation, calling it a potential legal error. The lawsuit, filed by Fair Fight, claims the mass voter challenges were reckless and intended to suppress votes. ATLANTA - A federal appeals court in Atlanta appears poised to revive a closely-watched legal case involving a controversial mass voter eligibility challenge that took place in Georgia ahead of the 2021 U.S. Senate runoff elections, according to The Associated Press. What we know A three-judge panel from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday in a case brought by Fair Fight, a voting rights group founded by former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. The group sued Texas-based True the Vote, alleging the nonprofit attempted to intimidate voters by challenging the eligibility of more than 360,000 people ahead of the runoff. The original case was dismissed last year by U.S. District Judge Steve Jones, who ruled that Fair Fight had failed to prove True the Vote's actions amounted to voter intimidation under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. During Tuesday's hearing, two appellate judges—Adalberto Jordan and Federico Moreno—signaled disagreement with the lower court's conclusion. Judge Jordan called the dismissal a "legal error," while Moreno suggested the trial judge had not fully examined all parts of the law. What they're saying The appellate judges expressed concern that the lower court overlooked key aspects of the case. In particular, Judge Jordan stressed that intent alone can support a claim of attempted intimidation: "Attempt does not require success," he noted. Judge Moreno questioned whether intimidating voters was the real objective behind the challenge and said the appeals court should provide clarity on mass voter eligibility contests in future elections. True the Vote's attorney, Jake Evans, defended the group's actions, arguing there was no intent to intimidate and no direct contact between True the Vote's co-founder, Catherine Engelbrecht, and any of the voters who testified. Big picture view The outcome of this appeal could set a precedent for how far third-party groups can go in challenging voter rolls before elections. With election security and voter suppression continuing to spark national debate, the case raises broader questions about the limits of citizen-led scrutiny and the protections afforded under the Voting Rights Act. What's next The appeals panel has not yet issued a ruling, but Tuesday's questioning suggests Fair Fight may see its lawsuit revived. If that happens, the case will likely return to district court for further proceedings. In the meantime, the appellate court's decision could influence how courts handle similar voter challenges in upcoming election cycles.
13-05-2025
- Politics
Federal appeals court may revive lawsuit against conservative group for voter intimidation
ATLANTA -- A federal appeals court appeared inclined Tuesday to revive a lawsuit accusing a conservative group of violating the Voting Rights Act when it announced it was challenging the eligibility of more than 360,000 Georgia voters. The lower court committed 'legal error' in its ruling finding no violation of the Voting Rights Act, 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Adalberto Jordan said at a hearing in Atlanta. Another judge on the panel, Federico Moreno, seemed to agree, saying the district court judge had failed to conduct a separate analysis of one part of the law. The three-judge panel did not immediately issue a ruling. The panel was considering a lawsuit against Texas-based nonprofit True the Vote by Fair Fight, a group founded by former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Fair Fight argued True the Vote's mass voter challenge ahead of a 2021 runoff election for two pivotal U.S. Senate seats violated a section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that prohibits voter intimidation. In a 145-page decision last year, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones disagreed, saying the evidence presented during a trial did not show the actions of True the Vote 'caused (or attempted to cause) any voter to be intimidated, coerced, or threatened in voting.' Jones added, however, that the list of voters to be challenged 'utterly lacked reliability' and bordered on "recklessness.' Jordan and Moreno took issue with Jones' conclusion that True the Vote did not attempt to intimidate voters. Moreno asked an attorney for the group, Jake Evans, whether intimidating voters was the goal of the challenge. Evans said there was no evidence of any desire by True the Vote's co-founder, Catherine Engelbrecht, to intimidate voters, and she had no contact with the challenged voters who testified at trial. Jordan said that argument did not speak to the claim that the group attempted to intimidate voters. 'Attempt does not require success,' he said.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal appeals court may revive lawsuit against conservative group for voter intimidation
ATLANTA (AP) — A federal appeals court appeared inclined Tuesday to revive a lawsuit accusing a conservative group of violating the Voting Rights Act when it announced it was challenging the eligibility of more than 360,000 Georgia voters. The lower court committed 'legal error' in its ruling finding no violation of the Voting Rights Act, 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Adalberto Jordan said at a hearing in Atlanta. Another judge on the panel, Federico Moreno, seemed to agree, saying the district court judge had failed to conduct a separate analysis of one part of the law. The three-judge panel did not immediately issue a ruling. The panel was considering a lawsuit against Texas-based nonprofit True the Vote by Fair Fight, a group founded by former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Fair Fight argued True the Vote's mass voter challenge ahead of a 2021 runoff election for two pivotal U.S. Senate seats violated a section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that prohibits voter intimidation. In a 145-page decision last year, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones disagreed, saying the evidence presented during a trial did not show the actions of True the Vote 'caused (or attempted to cause) any voter to be intimidated, coerced, or threatened in voting.' Jones added, however, that the list of voters to be challenged 'utterly lacked reliability' and bordered on "recklessness.' Jordan and Moreno took issue with Jones' conclusion that True the Vote did not attempt to intimidate voters. Moreno asked an attorney for the group, Jake Evans, whether intimidating voters was the goal of the challenge. Evans said there was no evidence of any desire by True the Vote's co-founder, Catherine Engelbrecht, to intimidate voters, and she had no contact with the challenged voters who testified at trial. Jordan said that argument did not speak to the claim that the group attempted to intimidate voters. 'Attempt does not require success,' he said. Moreno also suggested the 11th Circuit needed to weigh in on such mass challenges for future elections.
Winnipeg Free Press
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Federal appeals court may revive lawsuit against conservative group accused of voter intimidation
ATLANTA (AP) — A federal appeals court appeared inclined Tuesday to revive a lawsuit accusing a conservative group of violating the Voting Rights Act when it announced it was challenging the eligibility of more than 360,000 Georgia voters. The lower court committed 'legal error' in its ruling finding no violation of the Voting Rights Act, 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Adalberto Jordan said at a hearing in Atlanta. Another judge on the panel, Federico Moreno, seemed to agree, saying the district court judge had failed to conduct a separate analysis of one part of the law. The three-judge panel did not immediately issue a ruling. The panel was considering a lawsuit against Texas-based nonprofit True the Vote by Fair Fight, a group founded by former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Fair Fight argued True the Vote's mass voter challenge ahead of a 2021 runoff election for two pivotal U.S. Senate seats violated a section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that prohibits voter intimidation. In a 145-page decision last year, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones disagreed, saying the evidence presented during a trial did not show the actions of True the Vote 'caused (or attempted to cause) any voter to be intimidated, coerced, or threatened in voting.' Jones added, however, that the list of voters to be challenged 'utterly lacked reliability' and bordered on 'recklessness.' Jordan and Moreno took issue with Jones' conclusion that True the Vote did not attempt to intimidate voters. Moreno asked an attorney for the group, Jake Evans, whether intimidating voters was the goal of the challenge. Evans said there was no evidence of any desire by True the Vote's co-founder, Catherine Engelbrecht, to intimidate voters, and she had no contact with the challenged voters who testified at trial. Jordan said that argument did not speak to the claim that the group attempted to intimidate voters. 'Attempt does not require success,' he said. Moreno also suggested the 11th Circuit needed to weigh in on such mass challenges for future elections.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia election board drops suit after group fails to produce ballot-stuffing evidence
ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia State Election Board on Wednesday voted to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to enforce a subpoena against a conservative group that was unable to produce evidence to support its claims of ballot stuffing in the state. Texas-based True the Vote in 2021 filed complaints with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, including one in which it said it had obtained 'a detailed account of coordinated efforts to collect and deposit ballots in drop boxes across metro Atlanta' during the November 2020 election and a crucial runoff election for two U.S. Senate seats in January 2021. Investigators with the secretary's office looked into the group's complaints and in April 2022 subpoenaed True the Vote for evidence supporting its allegations. A lawyer for the group wrote to a state attorney in May 2023 that a complete response would require it to identify people to whom it had pledged confidentiality and said it was withdrawing its complaints. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Then-State Election Board chair William Duffey responded that the group had made 'serious allegations' and that he wouldn't allow the complaints to be withdrawn. He asked the state attorney general's office to enforce the subpoenas, and the board filed a lawsuit. A Fulton County judge in November 2023 ordered True the Vote to provide evidence it had collected, including the names of people it said had provided information. The organization said in a subsequent court filing it had no names, contact information or other documentary evidence to provide. The case was administratively closed in January 2024. Election Board member Janice Johnston on Wednesday proposed dismissing the lawsuit, withdrawing the subpoena and dismissing the group's complaint. She said it is apparent that an alleged whistleblower whom True the Vote said it was relying on for evidence 'will not be identified or cannot be identified' and that the investigation was unlikely to be successful as a result. After a brief discussion, the board voted to approve Johnston's proposal. A lawyer listed in online court records as representing True the Vote in the subpoena litigation did not immediately respond Wednesday to an email seeking comment. True the Vote's allegations that people engaged in ballot stuffing in Georgia were relied upon heavily for '2000 Mules,' a widely debunked film by conservative pundit and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza to cast doubt on the results of the 2020 presidential election. A State Election Board investigation found that surveillance camera footage used in the film showed people submitting ballots for themselves and family members who lived with them, which is allowed under Georgia law. D'Souza in December issued a statement saying 'inaccurate information' was provided to him about ballot box surveillance video and apologizing to a Georgia man who was falsely accused of ballot stuffing in the film. Previously, in May, Salem Media Group, the publisher of '2000 Mules,' also publicly apologized to the same man.
