No. 4: 05 – CV – 201.
The NAACP, through our Georgia State Conference, joined other organizations in a lawsuit that we filed in September 19, 2005. The lawsuit sought to have Act 53 declared unconstitutional and to enjoin its enforcement on the ground that it imposes an unauthorized and undue burden on the right to vote of Georgia voters in violation of the Georgia Constitution, the 14th and 24th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
On October 18, 2005, United States District Court Judge Harold Murphy of the Northern District of Georgia, granted the Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction. On January 26, 2006, and in response to the judge's decision, supporters of Act 53 introduced another bill (Senate Bill 84) similar to the version that was suspended last year, however, this time SB 84 eliminates the fee for the ID and adds 159 counties where the ID can be obtained. SB 84 is now before the US Department of Justice for pre-clearance under Section 5 of the VRA.
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