News from the South - Georgia News Feed

Court fight over 2021 Georgia mass voter eligibility challenges heads to federal court

Published

4 months ago

May 12, 2025

georgiarecorder.com – Stanley Dunlap – 2025-05-12 02:00:00

by Stanley Dunlap, Georgia Recorder
May 12, 2025

A federal appellate court is set to hear a case Tuesday centered on a five-year debate over whether the national right-leaning group True the Vote used mass voter challenges to intimidate minority voters.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit will hear arguments in a case in which plaintiffs, including a voting rights group founded by Stacey Abrams, contend that the case has national implications. Attorneys from both sides will have 15 minutes to present their cases during Tuesday’s hearing.

Mass voter challenges have been a mainstay in Georgia since the 2020 presidential election, when Democrat Joe Biden narrowly defeated Republican Donald Trump by about 12,000 votes in the state.

According to the Abrams-founded Fair Fight Action and others who filed suit, True the Vote’s actions likely violated the Voting Rights Act by using inaccurate voter registration information and voter intimidation tactics such as posting citizen watchdogs to monitor people casting ballots.

This case stems from True the Vote’s efforts to challenge the voter eligibility of about 385,000 Georgia voters prior to the January 5, 2021 runoff election, when Democrats would take control of the U.S. Senate following historic wins by Georgia Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

In January 2024, Gainesville U.S. District Court Judge Steve C. Jones concluded last year that Fair Fight did not prove True the Vote’s actions constituted voter intimidation prior to the dual Senate runoffs.

However, Jones criticized the conservative group’s “reckless” methods in compiling a list of voters.

Opponents of mass challenges claim that groups targeting Democratic-leaning counties are misusing the election law to challenge large numbers of voters as ineligible.

Many conservatives have argued that voter registration lists need to be purged of ineligible voters, while Democrats and progressive activists have alleged that mass voter challenges aim to intimidate and remove voters who should remain eligible.

Fair Fight alleges that True the Vote’s list in the 2021 runoff included a disproportionate number of Black, brown, and first-time voters who helped secure the 2020 presidential race for Biden.

“The 385,000 mass challenge in the lead up to the January 5, 2021 runoff was the largest mass challenge ever filed in this way in the country,” Fair Fight CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo said.

There’s been a debate over whether some new voting rules would improve voter confidence or if they are just attempts to appease Trump supporters who say he lost because of unfounded claims of widespread election fraud.

Georgia was at the center of the push to overturn the election results after Trump lost to Biden, becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to lose in Georgia in three decades. Trump’s narrow loss was reaffirmed through three counts, including one recount that was done by hand. Multiple recounts and audits after the 2020 election confirmed it was not tainted by widespread fraud.

According to state law, county election boards must find sufficient probable cause to move forward with an investigation when a voter does not appear to reside at their registered address, lists a non-residential address on their registration, or has other reasons that could disqualify them.

True the Vote founder Catherine Engelbrecht said her group will argue that their tactics promote fair elections when they return to Georgia court Tuesday.

“This isn’t just about one hearing — it’s about holding the line for election integrity and defending the voice of we the people,” she said in a statement. “Our legal team is locked in, sharpening every detail of our strategy. Our fight is to expose truth, uphold principle, and bring transparency to a process.”

Marc Elias, an attorney with Elias Law Firm and founder of left-leaning Democracy Docket, argues that the mass voter challenges in the True the Vote case are an egregious violation of Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, which guarantees that voters will not face intimidation during the voting process.

“Now, courts have been chipping away against lots of the federal voting rights protections. I’m not going to sugarcoat that,” Elias said. “That has been true at the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s been true at the lower levels. But the fact is attempts to intimidate voters is still illegal, and 11 B is still goo valid law throughout the country.”

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Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

The post Court fight over 2021 Georgia mass voter eligibility challenges heads to federal court appeared first on georgiarecorder.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

The content provides a detailed examination of a legal case involving voter challenges, a key issue in recent American electoral debates. The article presents the perspective of both progressive groups (like Fair Fight Action) and conservative figures (such as True the Vote), offering a balanced narrative of the opposing views. However, the content highlights more the concerns of voter intimidation and racial disparities, framing these issues within the broader context of voting rights advocacy. This focus on defending minority voters and the criticism of conservative tactics suggest a mild lean towards Center-Left, emphasizing fairness and voter protection without fully adopting either side’s rhetoric.

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News from the South - Georgia News Feed

Mall shooting suspects appear in court, linked to 2 groups

Published

13 hours ago

August 26, 2025

Staff Editor

www.wsav.com – Kaley Fedko – 2025-08-26 23:04:00

SUMMARY: Six suspects linked to a deadly July 2 shooting at Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah, Ga., are moving closer to murder indictment. Four appeared in court: Royce Haynes, Theron Robbins, Franklin James, and Johnathan Jones; Aujawan Hymon and Dahmil Johnson are scheduled later. Police identified two rival gang groups involved: 2X (Group A: Hymon, Haynes, James, Jones) and 3X (Group B: Robbins, Johnson). A physical fight escalated into a shootout, resulting in the death of Tina Smith, who died due to physiological stress fleeing the gunfire. Defense motions to dismiss felony murder charges were denied. Indictments, possibly including gang charges, are expected by October 1.

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The post Mall shooting suspects appear in court, linked to 2 groups appeared first on www.wsav.com

News from the South - Georgia News Feed

Democrat heads to runoff in Georgia state Senate race with two Republicans competing for second

Published

17 hours ago

August 26, 2025

Staff Editor

georgiarecorder.com – Maya Homan – 2025-08-26 18:58:00

by Maya Homan, Georgia Recorder
August 26, 2025

The lone Democrat in a seven-way race has advanced to a runoff in a special election that will decide who will replace former Alpharetta Republican state Sen. Brandon Beach, but the top GOP candidates in the contest were still battling it out for second place late Tuesday night.

Democrat Debra Shigley had a strong showing Tuesday night, racking up about 40% of the vote. Republicans Jason Dickerson and Steve West were still neck and neck for second place Tuesday night, earning 17.4% and 17.1% of the vote, respectively. Dickerson held a narrow 65-vote edge over West.

Over 20,000 voters cast their ballots in the special election, amounting to a 14% turnout rate.

Since no candidate cleared 50% of the vote to win the race outright Tuesday, the top two candidates will face off for a second time on Sept. 23.

Dickerson, Shigley and West were among the seven qualified candidates seeking to replace Beach, who resigned from the Senate earlier this year after President Donald Trump appointed Beach to serve as the 46th U.S. Treasurer. The district, which includes parts of Fulton and Cherokee counties, is predominantly Republican, with Beach receiving upwards of 70% of the vote against a Democratic challenger in 2024.

Dickerson, a Cherokee County resident, is the president of Purple Chip Capital Management, a private investment firm. He has cast himself as a political outsider who plans to prioritize property tax relief and improving access to affordable housing for seniors. Dickerson also reported the highest campaign contributions of any candidate in the race, loaning himself $500,000 and raising an additional $100.

Republican Steve West, the CEO of a metal fabrication company, is currently in third place. West was a member of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners from 2014 until this year, when he stepped down to run for the state Senate. His platform includes a broad range of conservative policy proposals, including eliminating the state income tax, strengthening Georgia’s economy, and cracking down on illegal immigration. He also proposed ending Georgia’s state film tax credit.

Democrats, meanwhile, have rallied behind Shigley, an Alpharetta mom, attorney and small business owner. The only Democratic candidate in the race, Shigley said she aims to improve affordability for families, strengthen public school systems and expand access to health care. She has received endorsements from U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, and progressive organizations including the Georgia Win List and Reproductive Freedom for All.

Shigley’s advancement to the runoff was seen as a success for Democrats, who are seeking to flip the deep-red district. Shigley gained nearly 10 points over Lillia Michelle Lionel, who challenged Beach last year.

“My team and I are more than ready to continue this historic momentum,” Shigley said in a statement. “I am very proud of the campaign we have run so far, and it is clear that our vision — for an affordable, healthy, educated Georgia where working families can thrive — is resonating with our neighbors.”

Dickerson and West did not immediately reply to requests for comment Tuesday night.

Georgia Republican Party Chair Josh McKoon said he wasn’t surprised to see Shigley in the lead in the jungle primary when asked about the early results around 8 p.m., but he said he expected Republican voters to consolidate behind the GOP candidate in the runoff election.

“It’s really dangerous to read a lot into a special election,” he said. “This is an election taking place in the dead of summer. People are returning from summer vacation. People don’t know there’s an election. They’re not used to voting at this time of year.”

But Democratic officials are optimistic about their chances in the runoff election.

“Debra was the top vote-getter in a deep-red district against a field of six Republicans — a testament not only to Debra’s strong leadership and bold vision for Senate District 21, but to the undeniable Democratic momentum building across our state,” Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Charlie Bailey said in a statement. “Now it’s time to carry this momentum forward into the runoff.”

Deputy Editor Ross Williams contributed to this report.

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The post Democrat heads to runoff in Georgia state Senate race with two Republicans competing for second appeared first on georgiarecorder.com

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The content provides a balanced overview of a special election in Georgia, presenting information about both Democratic and Republican candidates without evident favoritism. It includes details on candidates’ platforms, endorsements, and election dynamics from multiple perspectives, maintaining a neutral tone throughout. The article focuses on factual reporting rather than opinion, reflecting a centrist approach to political coverage.

News from the South - Georgia News Feed

Man accuses Delta flight attendant of slapping him | FOX 5 News

Published

18 hours ago

August 26, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – FOX 5 Atlanta – 2025-08-26 18:21:24

SUMMARY: Mohamed Shibly alleges a Delta flight attendant slapped him during a July 29 flight to Fresno after refusing to provide water to his child. The attendant reportedly used a disrespectful tone and later whispered a vulgar word to Shibly, who responded with profanity. The attendant then struck him with an open palm. A nearby passenger confirmed hearing the slap and the attendant’s angry response. Delta has suspended the crew member and is investigating. Shibly’s attorneys, citing possible discrimination due to his Palestinian Muslim background and his wife’s Palestine shirt, demand sensitivity training and $20 million from Delta. The FBI may be involved.

Delta Air Lines faces a massive legal showdown after an alleged slap in the sky. The man says the incident started with his wife asking for water for one of his young kids, which he says the flight attendant refused to provide. He says he then asked the crew member himself. Delta says it is looking into the incident and the crew member has been suspended while it investigates.

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