ATLANTA — A federal judge ruled Thursday not to extend the voter registration deadline in Georgia.
Monday marked the state’s deadline to register to vote. On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union, the NAACP and other civil liberty groups filed a lawsuit to extend it to Oct. 14 over the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
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On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross ruled in favor of the state to not extend it.
The judge said there is no state law that would allow Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger or Gov. Brian Kemp to extend the deadline.
“The harm to the state’s interests outweighs the plaintiffs’ interests,” Ross said.
The groups who filed the lawsuit said they won’t stop fighting to protect every voter’s rights.
Early voting for the 2024 election begins on Oct. 15.
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