Athens-Clarke County election officials are seeking legal advice to manage voter challenges under a new state law, Senate Bill 189, which expands the ability to challenge voter registrations based on residency requirements. Critics argue that the law could lead to excessive challenges and strain election staff, as it allows the use of the unreliable national change of address database as evidence.
The bill's supporters claim it protects democracy and prevents challenges close to elections. During a special meeting, concerns were raised about transparency and the potential overwhelming number of challenges. The board is considering measures to protect staff from frivolous challenges but has referred the issue to the county's legal team for further review.
