Georgia Secretary of State Press Office

Secretary of State Handel Moving Forward with Photo ID Requirement for September Special Elections

Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel announced that the photo identification requirement will be effective for in-person voting, beginning with the September 18, 2007 Special Elections.

This follows the Georgia Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling Friday denying a motion for reconsideration of the June 11, 2007 ruling in the photo ID case, Lake v. Perdue. The Georgia Supreme Court previously found that plaintiff Lake would not have been harmed by the 2006 law and, therefore, lacked legal standing to bring the lawsuit. Friday’s ruling clears the way for the Secretary Handel to move forward with a public education and outreach program about the new requirement.

“I am very pleased that the Georgia Supreme Court’s decision stands,” Secretary Handel said. “We are ready to begin education, outreach and training for the implementation of photo ID requirement for the September 18 special elections.”

The comprehensive outreach program will educate and inform Georgia citizens about the identification they will need to bring with them to vote in future elections. The program will begin immediately, focusing first on the counties participating in the September 18 and November 6, 2007 elections. And, the program will continue into 2008 for the Presidential Preference Primaries, the July General Primaries and the November General elections.

In addition, Secretary Handel announced that the state has filed a motion to lift the stay of proceedings in the federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the photo ID law, Common Cause v. Billups. The State’s motion also requested that the federal court set the case for final trial so that the challenge to the Photo ID law in federal court can proceed as soon as possible.

“It is imperative that we move to a final resolution in the Common Cause case so that the people of Georgia will know once and for all what to expect when they go to the polls to cast their vote,” said Secretary of State Karen Handel.

For Immediate Release July 31, 2007	FFI Contact:Matt Carrothers Director of Communications 404.656.5792

Secretary of State Handel Moving Forward with Photo ID Requirement for September Special Elections Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel announced that the photo identification requirement will be effective for in-person voting, beginning with the September 18, 2007 Special Elections. This follows the Georgia Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling Friday denying a motion for reconsideration of the June 11, 2007 ruling in the photo ID case, Lake v. Perdue. The Georgia Supreme Court previously found that plaintiff Lake would not have been harmed by the 2006 law and, therefore, lacked legal standing to bring the lawsuit. Friday’s ruling clears the way for the Secretary Handel to move forward with a public education and outreach program about the new requirement. “I am very pleased that the Georgia Supreme Court’s decision stands,” Secretary Handel said. “We are ready to begin education, outreach and training for the implementation of photo ID requirement for the September 18 special elections.” The comprehensive outreach program will educate and inform Georgia citizens about the identification they will need to bring with them to vote in future elections. The program will begin immediately, focusing first on the counties participating in the September 18 and November 6, 2007 elections. And, the program will continue into 2008 for the Presidential Preference Primaries, the July General Primaries and the November General elections. In addition, Secretary Handel announced that the state has filed a motion to lift the stay of proceedings in the federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the photo ID law, Common Cause v. Billups. The State’s motion also requested that the federal court set the case for final trial so that the challenge to the Photo ID law in federal court can proceed as soon as possible. “It is imperative that we move to a final resolution in the Common Cause case so that the people of Georgia will know once and for all what to expect when they go to the polls to cast their vote,” said Secretary of State Karen Handel.