Jen Jordan for Attorney General: Voting Rights Platform
Attorneys General are the first and last lines of defense against threats to our democracy. In Georgia, the Attorney General has unique jurisdiction over voting rights and elections. It’s never been more important that we have an Attorney General who will stand in the breach and use the power of the law to stand up for Georgians’ right to vote and defend our elections.
As an attorney and as a state Senator, I have been a longtime advocate for voting rights in Georgia. In 2005, I filed suit to delay enforcement of Georgia’s first voter identification law. In 2015, I sued then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp for unlawfully distributing the personal information of every Georgia voter in the “Peach Breach.” As a state Senator, I faced death threats for questioning Rudy Giuliani and Trump’s legal team when they came to Georgia to attempt to overturn our election results. And I’ve been a loud opponent of the wave of voter suppression laws including SB 202.
Now, I’m running for Attorney General to use the law as a tool for justice and defend our democracy from unprecedented attacks. As Georgia’s next Attorney General, I will:
Establish a Voting Rights Division in the Attorney General’s office
The structure of Georgia’s Department of Law should reflect the priorities of the people. As Attorney General, I will create and lead a new division within the office specifically dedicated to protecting voting rights. The voting rights division will investigate and combat barriers to the ballot box that make it harder for Georgians to exercise their freedom to vote.
Investigate and prosecute cases of voter intimidation and suppression
As Attorney General, I will ensure that our elections are secure and fair, and that every legal vote is counted. The Georgia Attorney General is responsible for maintaining a telephone hotline for Georgians to report voter intimidation and illegal election activities, and for investigating and prosecuting any violations. Unlike Attorney General Carr, I will use that power to actually protect Georgians whose freedom to vote is infringed upon in any way.
Work to protect and bolster the Voting Rights Act
As Attorney General, I will work to defend the Voting Rights Act, one of the most important civil rights laws in our nation’s history, from attacks. Attorney General Carr has done everything in his power to weaken the Voting Rights Act, including signing onto an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to make it harder to prove that certain voting laws are racially discriminatory. I will do everything in my power to ensure that the Voting Rights Act continues to protect Georgians from discriminatory voting practices.
Protect election workers from harassment and intimidation
In the wake of the 2020 elections, Georgia election officials experienced an unprecedented level of harassment and intimidation, including receiving death threats. As Attorney General, I will work with local district attorneys to make protecting our election officials from harassment, threats, and doxxing a top priority. The patriotic public servants who ensure Georgia has free and fair elections must be able to perform their duties safely and free of intimidation.
Prioritize the fundamental rights of Georgians
While Chris Carr defines himself as the lawyer for Brian Kemp, I believe that the role of the Attorney General is to be a lawyer for the people of the State of Georgia and ensure that our government is accountable to the people. As such, I will never employ taxpayer resources to defend a law that violates Georgians’ most fundamental rights, including the constitutional right to vote. I will also protect the will of the voters by preventing partisan interests from sabotaging or overturning our elections.
